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Digitalization of Coastal Management and Decision Making
Supported by Multi-Dimensional Geospatial Information and Analysis
at The Ohio State University GIS & Mapping Laboratory
Phase I (1998-1999)

OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED SIGNIFICANCE

The goal of this research is to investigate and develop technologies that will greatly enhance operation capabilities of federal, state, and local government agencies for coastal management and decision-making using multiple spaceborne, airborne, and in-situ remotely-sensed measurements, spatio-temporal databases, coastal hydrological modeling, and geospatial information analysis.

The objectives of this planning grant project are:

  • To investigate current status and needs of federal, state and local governmental operations related to geospatial information supported coastal management and decision-making,
  • To organize a Workshop on Digital Government for Coastal Management and Decision Making that will involve all level governmental representatives and university researchers,
  • To develop a strategy and a research and development plan with governmental partners for Phase II of the project, and
  • To test some of the concepts with government partners.
    • This research will integrate expertise and strengths of coastal engineering and geographic information science at The Ohio State University and R&D experiences of government agencies such as Office of Coastal Survey/NOAA, Coastal Service Center/NOAA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The research will, for first time, develop a spatio-temporal data model for inter-governmental agency operations that takes the dynamic coastal nature into account. The high efficient and high resolution space and airborne remotely sensed measurements and modeling and forecasting capability will supply spatial information that can be used by government agencies at all levels in a coordinated fashion for coastal management and decision making. If successfully implemented, this project will a) significantly enhance our capability of handling spatio-temporal coastal databases, b) build a fundamental basis of coastal geospatial information for inter-governmental agency operations, and c) provide innovative tools for all level governmental agencies to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs.
    The research project will be carried out primarily in the Great Lakes Area. The Lake Erie coastal area will be the pilot site. The research results will be improved/modified for transfer to other coastal areas, particularly the Tampa Bay area.

    The project will have two phases. Phase I will be nine months and dedicated to project preparation and planning. A full proposal will be submitted by the end of Phase I. In Phase II we will conduct full scale research. In the long-term we will build a center of excellence in Coastal Geospatial Information and Analysis at The Ohio State University. This planning grant proposal emphasizes Phase I. However, issues and technologies involved in Phase II are also introduced.

    Preliminary digital government operations to be supported are:

    Preliminary major research areas include:


    For further information, e-mail Dr. Rongxing (Ron) Li at li.282@osu.edu
    GIS & Mapping Laboratory, The Ohio State University
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science
    470 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Avenue
    Columbus, OH 43210-1275
    Tel.: (614) 292-6946  --  Fax.: (614) 292-2957
    website:  http://shoreline.eng.ohio-state.edu
    Last updated: June 1, 2002
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