Abstract

ACES: Analytical Framework for Coastal and Estuarine Study
Track: Water Resources
Author(s): Stephen Bourne, Sandra Fox, Jack Hampson, Palmer Kinser

Assessment of coastal environments is traditionally tackled with complex supercomputer-based modeling techniques due to complex geomorphology, hydrodynamics and biogeochemistry. While these technologies provide useful results, they are unavailable to most coastal professionals. In a pioneer effort, the Analytical Framework for Coastal and Estuarine Studies (ACES) was developed to support coastal studies by a team of academic, governmental, and industry experts. ACES is composed of 1) a GIS-based database of spatial and temporal data that describe the environment, and 2) an accompanying Esri ArcMap-based toolset.

ACES creates an environment where data from diverse sources can be synthesized. The methodology focuses on first-principles-analysis of the estuary. Bulk parameters related to shape, residence time, and flushing potential are derived; the relative importance of tidal versus terrestrial flow on estuarine hydrodynamics is assessed. ACES is designed to augment the successful ArcHydro data model with a coastal feature dataset that works with the ArcHydro schema.

Stephen Bourne
Post, Buckley, Schuh and Jernigan
5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 200
Tampa , Florida 33607
United States
Phone: 404-895-0753
E-mail: sfbourne@pbsj.com

Sandra Fox
St. Johns River Water Management District
P.O. Box 1429
Palatka , Florida 32178-1429
United States
Phone: 386-329-4535
Fax: 386-329-4329
E-mail: sfox@sjrwmd.com

Jack Hampson
Post, Buckley, Schuh and Jernigan
5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 200
Tampa , Florida 33607
United States
Phone: 813-281-8368
E-mail: JCHampson@pbsj.com

Palmer Kinser
St. Johns River Water Management District
P.O. Box 1429
Palatka , Florida 32178-1429
United States
Phone: 386-329-4369
E-mail: pkinser@sjrwmd.com