Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network Dr Patrick R

Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network Dr. Patrick R. Michaud June 11, 2002

Conrad Blucher Institute/ Texas A&M Univ-Corpus Christi n n n Located in Corpus Christi, Texas Focused on regional and environmental issues, especially for the Gulf of Mexico Blucher Institute focuses on measuring the earth and its processes

TCOON Overview n n n Started 1988 Over 50 stations Primary Sponsors n n General Land Office Water Devel. Board US Corps of Eng Nat'l Ocean Service Gulf of Mexico

TCOON Overview n Measurements n n n Precise Water Levels Wind Temperature Barometric Pressure Follows NOAA/NOS standards Real-time, online database

Typical TCOON Station n n n n Wind anemometer Radio Antenna Satellite Transmitter Solar Panels Data Collector Water Level Sensor Water Quality Sensor Current Meter

Data Collection Paths

Data Management n n Automated Acquisition, Archive, Processing, Retrieval 10 -year Historical Database Most processing takes place via Internet Infrastructure for other observation systems

Data Management Design Principles n Preserve source data n n n Annotate instead of modify Automate as much as possible Maintain a standard interchange format Avoid complex or proprietary components Emphasize long-term reliability over shortterm costs

Uses of TCOON Data n n n Tidal Datums Littoral Boundaries Oil-Spill Response Navigation Storm Preparation/ Response Research

Tidal Datums n Used for n n n Coastal property boundaries Nautical charts Bridge and engineering structures

Tidal Datum Schematic

Other Real-Time Systems n Real-time Navigation n n Water-Quality n n n Port of Corpus Christi Port Freeport NOAA PORTS Nueces Bay Salinity Oso Creek Dissolved Oxygen Offshore Weather

New Data Collection Hardware n n n PC-104 based computer Linux operating system Solid-state Flash memory 10 serial ports, 16 A/D channels Low power consumption Rugged for harsh environments

New Data Collection Hardware n Linux operating system n n n 2. 4. 9 kernel 16 MB RAM, 32 MB HDD 486 or Pentium processor Concurrent processes GNU shell/tools n n n cron bash gcc

Research n n n Real-time Automated Data Processing Tidal Datum Processing Web-based Visualization and Manipulation of Coastal Data Neural-Network-based forecasts from realtime observations Specialized sensor and data acquisition system development Support for other research efforts

Neural Network Forecasting n Reliable short-term predictions of effects of storm events

Conclusions n n n Long-term, data-rich observation network Web-based infrastructure for automated collection and processing of marine data Research in datum computation and coastal forecasting