Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies
Providing NOAA with a world-class mapping center to develop unique technologies to map, identify, and respond to a variety of threats in the world’s ocean and coastal zones.
Latest News
The evolution of a scientist – a reflection on the importance of seizing opportunities
But I believe succeeding as a scientist also requires taking advantage of all the opportunities in front of you to obtain real life science experiences. My path is just one example, but below I recap how someone who started as a deep-sea ecologist ended up on one of the hydrographic cruises offered on the Nancy Foster this year.
Setting Sail into the World of Ocean Mapping and Hydrography
Aside from getting research experience in a different field, I also wanted to do something so out of my comfort zone and prove to myself that I am capable of such things. And when I say, “out of my comfort zone”, I mean it. This was my first research cruise ever in a topic I knew practically nothing about.
Charting off Charleston: Contributing to NOAA Marine Mapping on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf
I had not been to Charleston in some 10 years and was struck by the street flooding caused by a mere high tide from a near-full moon the night of our arrival. Though we would be mapping offshore, seeing this underpinned the importance of mapping, especially in the coastal environment which has been increasingly impacted by events such as regular flooding due to sea level rise.
What we do
The intended benefits of COMIT will serve a diverse community of constituencies by developing, testing and implementing better, cheaper, and faster approaches to ocean and coastal mapping.
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Uncrewed Systems
Improving the efficiency of seafloor mapping efforts via advanced technology and processing algorithms.
Geodetic Observations
Developing tools for high precision measurements of the seafloor in coastal zones.
Applied Hydrography
Increasing capacity to rapidly respond to coastal impacts and changes.
Forecasting and Remote Sensing
Resolving complexity of spatial and temporal scales for hydrodynamic modeling in nearshore environments.
Professional Development
Capacity building through training modules, certificate programs, graduate coursework, and seminars.
Outreach
Community engagement via user-ready content and products for the general public and elementary to high school-aged students.