Abstract - The Integration of Estuarine Living Marine Resources Database and the Environmental Sensitivity Index Geographic Information Systems

Track: Oceanography, Coastal Zone, Marine Resources

Joanne Halls
Research Planning, Inc.
1200 Park Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Telephone: 803-256-7322
Fax: 803-254-6445
E-mail: joanne@researchplanning.com

William Holton, Scott Zengel

The Integration of Estuarine Living Marine Resources Database and the Environmental Sensitivity Index Geographic Information Systems

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) Division has a nationwide program, Estuarine Living Marine Resources (ELMR), which compiles fisheries databases each month of the year for species, life stages, relative abundances, and spatial variability. The spatial aspect of the data is derived from physical characteristics such as salinity. NOAA's Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment (HazMat) Division also has a nationwide program, Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI), which compiles shoreline characterization, biological resources, and socioeconomic resources into a geographic information system (GIS). Within the last year HazMat and SEA have worked with Research Planning, Inc. to integrate ELMR and ESI. This paper discusses the methodology for integrating these data, the technical issues involved in the integration process, the benefits of the integration, and the future plans for further refinement and expanded spatial capabilities. The North Carolina ESI, completed in 1997, builds on the experiences gained from the North Carolina ESI and provides an opportunity to automate and expand the integration process.