Data Collection and Observations

Data Acquisition | Integrating Additional Ocean Observation Data | GIS Framework Development

Data Acquisition

The final products and storm surge forecast improvements expected to result from this partnership are dependent on high resolution bathymetric, topographic, and airborne gravimetric data. When used in combination, these data provide a description of elevation characteristics throughout the Pensacola, Florida, study region.

The gravimetric data measure the earth's gravitational field within the Gulf of Mexico region. Accurate elevation data are critical to the development of improved storm surge forecasts and higher quality inundation maps, as these characteristics can influence the severity and trajectory of coastal flooding impacts.

Airborne topographic and bathymetric light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data will be collected within the Pensacola, Florida region. The LiDAR data acquisition will take place in summer 2005, in coordination with the Joint Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX). In addition, the National Geodetic Survey will collect airborne gravimetric data for the entire Gulf of Mexico region. These high resolution datasets will be merged with the best available elevation data from the region to create seamless models of coastal topography and bathymetry. The updated coastal bathymetry and topography can be then be used to inform storm surge forecasts, ecosystem protection and change analysis, post-hurricane damage assessment, updated national shoreline, and models to predict sea level rise.

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Integrating Additional Ocean Observation Data

IOOS Collaboration

Established ocean observing system infrastructure already exists in coastal and ocean waters to collect oceanographic and meteorological data (wind speed, tide and water level, salinity, etc.). The Storm Surge Partnership Project will collaborate with the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) community to utilize existing data and identify additional coastal and ocean observations that may be required. In particular, the Storm Surge Project team will assess the need for near-real-time and real-time wind, wave, and tides data. These data can assist in validating storm surge models and products. Coordination efforts related to this project may serve to enhance the availability of observation data and demonstrate increased use and applications of such data.

Tidal Information

The NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), responsible for the collection, analysis, and distribution of historical and real-time observations and predictions of water levels, coastal currents, and other meteorological and oceanographic data, is an active partner on this project and provider of IOOS data. Their primary role in this project will be to assess requirements for new or updated tidal datum information, as well as requirements for additional tide gauges to support development of the storm surge model. In addition, CO-OPS will attempt to incorporate existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water level networks into the tidal datums database and ingest these data for processing and tidal datum verification. Waves and currents data from offshore buoys and Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations will also be used.

Geodetic Control

This project will identify requirements for new or additional geodetic and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) connections to existing tidal benchmarks, or reference points, in order to ensure the highest quality and utility for the vertical datum (VDatum) models. New measurements will be planned according to the results of this assessment. This process may involve geodetic differential leveling of GPS static surveys.

Coastal Inundation

The long-term inundation frequency and duration data and analyses from Pensacola, Panama City, and Panama City Beach (Florida) will be examined to identify any relevant trends. The project team will also use historical, archived data sets to analyze the repeat frequencies of storm events within a given area. These historical data provide important reference and trend information that can be useful to the progression of this project.

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GIS Framework Development

The NOAA Coastal Services Center will conduct an inventory of the geospatial data available within the study region to highlight any data gaps or additional data requirements that may need to be addressed. This data mining effort will also involve collaboration with other agencies or data providers that may be able to contribute data resources to address identified gaps. The data will be stored in a data management system, displayed within a geographic information system (GIS) framework for use by the project team and, if possible, made publicly available via an interactive, Internet mapping application.

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