CONRAD BLUCHER INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES
SUPPORTING
TEXAS PORTS AND WATERWAYS OPERATIONS
WATER LEVEL
2. Water level forecasting based on Neural Network
techniques, that account for the influence of local wind
conditions, for select locations along the Texas Coast.
High Frequency (HF) Radar
Two observation platforms located in the Gulf
Proposed Center for Sensitive Nearshore Environments
(SenSE)
CBI’s Mobile HF Radar Technology is capable of determining
of Mexico near Port Aransas measure wave
characteristics and other key environmental
water circulation patterns and wave height/direction/period
within targeted water bodies along the Texas Coast.
Two Inter-related Services to the Port Community:
1. The Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network (TCOON)
is a state-of–the-art water-level measurement system
with over 50 stations along the Texas Coast.
ENVIRONMENTAL
WAVES and CURRENTS
Wave Climate Monitoring System
parameters. The two multi-instrumented
observation stations serve as prototypes for
Instrumentation and Key Parameters
Port of Corpusplanned
Christi
future platforms
for the Texas Coast.
Offshore Generic Platform
Waves and Currents
Gulf of
Mexico
Solar Panels
Solar
Panels
Helicopter Pad
Wind Speed & Direction
Wind
Speed/Direction
Electronics Enclosure
Location of TCOON Water Level
Stations Along the Texas Coast
as Viewed with Interactive Website
Proposed Future Extent of
HF Radar Coverage
Corpus Christi Bay Current Vectors
for Southeasterly Wind Conditions
Platform Landing
W
TCOON Interactive Website
 Select Stations: Water
Current, Salinity, pH, and
Dissolved Oxygen
 Real Time, On Line Database
A Fundamental Upgrade of Water Level Forecasting for
the Texas Coast
 Reliable Short Term
Neural
Network
Forecasts
Neural
Network
Forecasts
Predictions of Effects
Measured
water
level
Measured
Water
Level
Tidal
forecast
charts
Tidal
Forecast
Charts
of Storm Events
 Effective for Regular
Conditions and Frontal
Passages
 Accounts for Influence
of Wind Forcing
 More Accurate than
Tide Charts
 Online Spring 2003
Vector Plot for Gulf of Mexico
East of Galveston Island
Current Profiler
Directional Wave
Measurements
or
Seafloor
lf o
a
Se
Key Features
 Located 3- and 15-nmi. from Port Aransas in
Gulf Of Mexico on NWS Platforms
ADCP
Waves and
Currents
“FlowCam”
Total Suspended Solids
Algal Blooms
LISST-100
Submersible Particle Distribution
Hydrocarbon Detection
 Real Time Spatial and Temporal Monitoring
e
rfac
u
S
ater
Acoustic Coppler Current Profiler (ADCP)
With Directional Wave Measurments
“Flashlamp”
Fluorometer
Chlorophyll-a
and
Hydrocarbons
Components Making SenSE a Powerful Environmental Tool
Platform Landing
 Follows NOAA/NOS
Standards
 Measurements:
Precise Water Levels
Wind
Temperature
Barometric Pressure
A comprehensive network of observation platforms and
data collection activities designed to provide real-time
information on key parameters associated with coastal
water quality and ecological health.
 Very High Frequency
 Mobile, Roving and Stationary Observation Stations
 Biogeochemical Processes
Gulf of
Mexico
 Ecosystem Integrity
HF Radar Data
 Now Casting and Forecasting
N
Comparison of USF ADCP
Buoy (EC4) vs. Nearest
HF-Radar Gridpoint (0.3 nmi.)
EC4 Data
 Communications by FreeWave Radio
N
In Situ Moveable Fixed
Platform
 Dial-up Voice Report for Pilots
HF Radar Applications
 Navigation/ Port
Management
 Data Availability and Management Through CBI
Website
Data Available via Dial-up Voice Report and Online
 Wind Speed and Direction at 21 m and 10 m
 Oil Spill/Contaminant
Response
 Air Temperature
 Dredge Analysis:
Hydrodynamic Models
 Barometric Pressure
 Wave Height, Period, and Direction
Neuralbetween
Net measured
Forecasting
aschart
Compared
Comparison
water levels, tidal
forecasts, and 24
hour neural
forecasts forand
Galveston
Pleasure
Pier. The accuracy 
of
tonetwork
Observed
Tide
Charts
the 24 hour neural network forecast shows the ability to predict the timing
and the intensity of frontal passages.
Water Temperature
Mobile HF Radar Unit
At Corpus Christi Beach
 Ecological Models
Geo Referenced Real Time
Mobile Sampling Platform
Components of Multi-Parameter Sampling Platforms
 On Board Logic & Control
 Data Telemetry
 Real Time and In Situ
 Minimize Human Factors
 New Technology and
Instrumentation
 Real time GIS
“Visualization of Large Data
Sets”