Title: Coral Reef Electronic Chart Initiative: Protecting Corals, Saving Ships
1Coral Reef Electronic Chart InitiativeProtecti
ng Corals, Saving Ships
Kathryn L. Ries Erich Frey Office of Coast
Survey, NOAA Lee Alexander, CCOM-JHC, Univ. of
New Hampshire
2Overview
- Office of Coast Survey, NOAA conducting a 4-year
pilot project in FKNMS - Convert existing coral reef maps to format
suitable for use with electronic charts (i.e.,
Marine Information Objects (MIOs) - MIOs to be based on international standards (both
data and display) - Meet IMO requirement and contribute to IHO
initiatives to incorporate critical marine
habitat info into vessel navigation systems - Will become basis for what is done worldwide
3Project Goals
- Bring critical coral habitat and other MPA
information to mariner - Enhance flow of geo-spatial info to/from
conservation managers - Develop/evaluate suitable data formats and
symbology for corals and other MPA areas - Ensure navigation safety contribute to marine
environmental protection
4Stakeholders
- Federal/State Government
- National Ocean Service, NOAA
- US Coast Guard
- US Geological Survey
- State of Florida / FKNMS SAC
- International Organizations
- International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
- The World Conservation Union (WCU)
- World Resource Institute (WRI)
- UN Environmental Programme (UNEP)
- Maritime Industry
- International Council of Cruise Lines
- Caribbean Shipping Association
- American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)
- American Pilots Association (APA)
- Academia
- General Public
5Special Areas
- IMO MARPOL 73/78 defined certain sea areas as
special areas - Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA)
- An area that needs special protection because of
ecological, socio-economic, or scientific reasons - International importance/recognition
6PSSAs
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia (1990)
- Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago, Cuba (1997)
- Malpelo Island, Colombia (2002)
- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, USA
(2002) - Wadden Sea, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands (2002)
- Paracas National Reserve, Peru (2003)
- Nominated on 2004
- Baltic Sea (except Russian waters)
- Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador
- Canary Isles Archipelago, Spain
7Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC)
- Database of chart features
- Produced in conformance to IHO S-57 Standards
- Displayed on ECDIS using IHO S-52 colors and
symbols - Software provides indications, warnings,
alarms by using intelligent data - chart is background for display of other
navigation information, e.g., - Ownship
- Radar
- AIS
- MIOs
Indication/alarms 1. Crossing into
separation scheme 2. Crossing into inbound
lane 3. Crossing out of traffic scheme 4.
Crossing safety depth value
Bligh Reef, Prince William Sound, Alaska (site of
EXXON VALDEZ grounding)
8IMO-compliant ECDIS
- ENC Definition
- all the chart information necessary for safe
navigation and may contain supplementary
information in addition to that contained in the
paper chart which may be considered necessary for
safe navigation.
9Marine Information Objects (MIOs)
- - Chart and navigation-related information that
supplement the minimum information required by
IMO ECDIS - Additional, non-mandatory
- Not covered by existing standards (e.g., IHO
S-57, IHO S-52, or IEC 61174) - The everything else
- Points, lines, areas, features, objects
10Types of MIOs
- Tides / water levels
- Ice coverage
- Meteorological
- Oceanographic
- Marine Habitats
- Environmental Protection
- Archeological
- Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
- and others TBD
11Goal for MIOs
- Supplemental information for decision support
- Right information for task-at-hand
- Voyage planning route monitoring
- How displayed less important than data format and
content - Data must be accurate, timely, and useable
- Display should be consistent in appearance
12Two types of Electronic Charting Systems
- ECDIS - Electronic Chart Display and Information
System - IMO Performance Standards
- IHO data and display specifications
- IEC testing/certification reqmnts
- ECDIS has been accepted by IMO as suitable for
meeting chart requirements of SOLAS.
- ECS - Electronic Chart System
- Anything other than ECDIS
- RTCM performance ISO data standards
- Use a wide variety of EC data
- Intended for non-SOLAS vessels
13MIOs
14(No Transcript)
15PSSA Boundary
ATBA Boundary
16Benthic Mapping
www.csc.noaa.gov/crs/bhm/
17(No Transcript)
18(No Transcript)
19Florida Keys Coral Reef Habitats
20Coral Reefs
FKNMS Boundary
21ATBA
22FL Keys National Wildlife Refuge
23Coral Reef/FKNMS MIOs
24Coral Reef/FKNMS MIOs and ENC
25Project Phases
- Year 1 - ID existing biological and regulatory
information in FKNMS accomplished - - Determine appropriate level of content to use
with electronic chart systems - - Initiate stakeholder involvement (via
FKNMS/SAC) - - Begin MIO technical development data
formats/symbology/display - Year 2 Convert selected data into MIOs
conforming to IHO S-57 data standards ongoing - - Advance stakeholder consultation process
- - two SAC/WG Mtgs report back to SAC
- - MPA Center now involved (MPA classif, display
aspects, MPA info in Coast Pilot) - - met with ICCL will participate in Pilot
Project
26SAC/Working Group Involvement
- What coral reef areas/critical habitats warrant
focus? - What type of large vessel operations/ activities
are a concern? - How should critical coral reef habitats be
classified for use with electronic charts? - How should coral reef info be displayed on ECDIS?
- Who are the relevant stakeholders who should be
encouraged to participate?
27Project Phases (continued)
- Year 3 Implement, test and evaluate MIOs with
electronic chart manufacturers and user groups - - Conduct demonstration using equipment installed
on government private vessels - - Market to users
- - Identify other USA regions that warrant similar
effort - - Share experience internationally (Cuba, Belize,
Australia) - - Commence formal adoption of international
standards - Year 4 Submit project results to IMO and IHO
- - Pursue formal adoption of international
standards - - Replicate project in other USA region
- - Work with World Bank and IMO GEF to replicate
project internationally
28Project Benefits
- Once produced, tested and evaluated, Coral Reef
MIOs will - Supplement navigation safety-related info
contained in ENCs RNCs issued by NOAA - Enable mariners to make informed decisions about
what areas to avoid and/or prohibited activities - Contribute to ongoing IMO and IHO initiatives
related to PSSAs (and designation on charts) - Facilitate maritime transportation/commerce while
increasing mariners awareness of marine
environmental protection
29Expected Outcomes
- Improved dialogue/coordination between data
producers and users - Increased awareness by maritime community of
coral reefs and other MPAs - Incorporation of marine info into vessel
navigation systems - Decreased risks of coral damage due to
availability of critical info to make informed
decisions - Development of international standards for
production and shipboard use of critical marine
habitat information - Overall Reduce damage to ships and marine
- environment
30Points of Contact
- Project Manager
- Katie Ries, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA
- Project Coordinator
- Erich Frey, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA
- Technical Advisor
- Dr. Lee Alexander, University of New Hampshire