2nd Annual IOOS Implementation Conference
Enhancing IOOS Capabilities
Developing a Multi-Hazard Forecasting and Mitigation Observing System
For
Improving Predictions of Coastal Inundation and Mitigating Impacts on Coastal
Communities, Ecosystems and Natural Resources
1. Consensus Recommendations of the Conferees
1.1 Coastal Inundation
Six break out groups were established (three per Working Group) to formulate
recommendations for enhancements. The recommendations below are those made by all
or most of the working groups. It was generally agreed that all observations should be
made openly accessible in a manner consistent with IOOS DMAC guidelines, with
minimal delay, and within a timeframe consistent with their use in the forecasting,
mitigation, and planning activities. Those that are new and not articulated in the 1st
Annual IOOS Development Plan are indicated by “(NEW).”
1.1.1 Observations
(1) Repeat measurements and timely post-inundation updates of near shore coastal
bathymetry-topography (including shoreline position) and benthic-land cover (habitats
(e.g., sea grass beds, tidal wetlands, forests, grassland) and use (e.g., dredging, bottom
trawling, infrastructure, impervious surfaces) (1-5 years) – especially in high risk areas.
(2) Increase density of rainfall, atmospheric moisture profiles and soil moisture
measurements (NEW).
(3) Increase stream gauge (continuous, real-time telemetry) coverage in the coastal zone,
including near head and mouth of rivers for more accurate estimates of land-based inputs
(run-out) of freshwater, sediments, nutrients and pollutants on seasonal scales and during
post-storm runoff.
(4) Repeat high resolution bathymetry across the EEZ (beyond 3 miles) (10 – 20 years)
(NEW).
(5) Increase real-time spatial and temporal resolution wind fields over water, surface
current fields, directional wave fields, and sea surface salinity distributions (EEZ).
(6) Optimize the tide gauge network to increase density of real-time measurements in
high risk areas.
(7) Deploy DART buoys for all coasts and to record a directional tsunami (higher spatial
resolution of real-time, bottom pressure and upper ocean measurements, e.g., Deep Ocean
Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys) (ocean basin scale).
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(8) Augment the DART buoy array with improved near surface technologies for open
ocean wave height measurements (e.g. Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS Systems)
(NEW).
1.1.2 Modeling
Establish an inundation modeling test bed for improving existing and developing new
models with an emphasis on:

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coupled wind, tide, river flow, rainfall, surface current, wave, water level models
with data assimilation for more accurate forecasts of impacts (surge, time-space
magnitude of inundation, run out/runoff; transport of debris, sediments, nutrients
and pollutants); and
more rigorous calibration and validation procedures.
1.1.3 Products
Maintain up-to-date coastal inundation maps for emergency planning (including shoreline
position and near shore (e.g. – 30 m to + 30 m bathy-topographic maps); Toolbox of
products available to managers, user-oriented products (including product training and
performance feedback; daily forecasts updated hourly and real-time transmission of surge
and inundation maps to managers).
1.2 DMAC
Three parallel subgroups discussed (a) DMAC standards process recommended by the
inter-agency, community-based DMAC Steering Team, (b) updates to the short-term
DMAC guidance for IOOS data providers developed by the DMAC Steering Team, (c)
recommendations for improving access to data in support of a multi-hazard forecasting
and mitigation system in the near-term (section 1.1 above).
Reports from the DMAC subgroups were presented in plenary to the Conferees, who
provided the consensus recommendations described below. Many of these
recommendations were also identified during the 1st Annual IOOS Development
Conference. The recommendations from this year’s Conference marked as “NEW” are
either significant expansions from last year, or new ideas. The Conferees exhibited a
clear understanding of (a) the need for broad community involvement in the DMAC
standards process, (b) the underlying complex challenges being faced, and (c) the sense
of urgency in moving DMAC forward. This renewed sense of urgency was driven by the
conferees’ recognition of the expanding disparity between the rapidly increasing
investment in existing and emerging observing systems, and the lack of needed,
complementary investments in interoperability-enabling DMAC standards process. The
following recommendations reflect this sense of urgency:
1.2.1 Fully implement the DMAC standards identification oversight
process as recommended by the DMAC Steering Team and outlined in the IOOS and
DMAC Plans.
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1.2.2 Implement key supporting elements of the process recommended by
the DMAC Steering Team to establish a community-based DMAC Expert Technical
teams (Expert Teams).

The process should include community forums to engage the IOOS community
(NEW).
1.2.3 Establishment of the following DMAC Expert teams were endorsed:
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DMAC Standards Process - to improve the sharing and feedback of information
regarding the status of current DMAC standards, ongoing activities, lessons
learned, and proposed new standards.(NEW)
Metadata and Data Discovery;
Data Transport and Access;
Archive;
IOOS and DMAC Systems Engineering;
IT Security (NEW); and,
Quality Control and Assurance. (NEW)
1.2.4 Community Engagement Caucuses provide needed outreach and
feedback mechanisms to key constituency groups with whom IOOS DMAC must engage.
To this end, Community Engagement Caucuses were endorsed as follows:



Private Sector Caucus, with the intent to enfranchise the private sector within
IOOS, especially with regard to interoperable standards and improved access to
IOOS data that might support development of value-added products by the
private sector. (NEW)
International Caucus, with the intent to fully engage those international programs
and activities within which IOOS will operate (e.g., WMO-IOC JCOMM,
GEOSS, etc.). (NEW)
Modeling Caucus, with the intent to improve access and distribution of model
products. (NEW)
1.2.5 The present under-investment in technical support services for the
DMAC Standards Oversight Process must be corrected to enable timely identification,
review and publication of IOOS DMAC interoperability standards (including the
necessary technical documentation). (NEW)

DMAC Test Beds should be established to enable successful identification,
testing, and community acceptance of IOOS DMAC standards.
1.2.6 Support IOOS DMAC investment in the emerging IOOS Regional
Associations.
1.2.7 Complete the ongoing IOOS Systems Engineering analysis,
especially those aspects that address interoperability among the federal backbone,
Regional Associations, U.S. IEOS, GOOS and GEOSS components. (NEW)
1.2.8 IOOS consists of three closely linked components (observations,
data management, and analysis that link modeling to observations). The Ocean.US
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DMAC initiative is planned and implemented by a Steering Team and an interagency
Implementing body. A parallel effort is needed for linking observations to models.
1.3 Education
Three breakout groups were convened to establish priorities for education and public
awareness initiatives (outlined in the IOOS Development Plan) and a stepwise approach
to develop a national education and public awareness network that supports and
implements the priority initiatives. Although each breakout group considered different
topics, many recommendations were made by more than one group. Those
recommendations appear below in priority order.
1.3.1 National Coordinating Office for Education and Public Awareness
Establish a National Coordinating Office for IOOS Education and Public Awareness to
work with Regional Associations to facilitate sharing among regions and other networks.
Basic principals for formation, operation and support of the coordination office and the
network as a whole were outlined:

Do not reinvent the wheel! Use existing education networks where possible.
Different regions have different needs and different potential network
participants; consequently the network is likely to be slightly different in each
region.

A National Coordinating Office facilitates sharing between regions and serves as
the focal point for connection of IOOS allied education with other networks.
Sharing and coordination should a) address compilation of an inventory of efforts,
b) research on effectiveness of educational products and services leading to a suite
of education best practices, and c) test beds in a number of areas including,
assessment and evaluation strategies and product design.

Each Regional Association should have staff with education, extension and
communications expertise. a) Recognize that each of these areas is a professional
discipline requiring unique skills and abilities and that the efforts in these 3 areas
should be tightly coupled within a region and across IOOS. b) Focus on using
IOOS data, products and integration of these with other data in learning,
consistent with IOOS integration principals and the role of IOOS in GEOSS.

Mechanisms to “blend/link” education networks in each region should be
developed with an initial focus on participation of COSEE, NEERS (education
and coastal training program), and SeaGrant (education and extension) network
members, followed by engagement of NMSP, GLOBE, and EPA networks (e.g.,
NEP). Over the long-term engage other Earth system science and environmental
education networks.

Formalize connections between organizations, especially networks, as a means to
encourage collaboration. Efforts to build community among personnel of
functional areas within IOOS (e.g., education and data management), geographic
regions, and education networks (e.g., COSEE, NERRS, SeaGrant, NMSP,
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GLOBE, etc.) should be encouraged and supported through workshops, travel
support and co-location of personnel.

Development of the national coordinating office and regional sites from existing
capabilities requires new investments in coordination and integration at national
and regional levels to be successful.
1.3.2 Participate in Governance of IOOS
Education should possess full membership in IOOS governance.

Education should have a chair-at-the-table in the NFRA governance and in each
Regional Association. Education should be part of the initial development of the
Regional Association and part of the business plan.

All regions should have an education council comprised of stakeholders, regional
education, extension, communications, and data management experts, and other
network representatives, as appropriate.

There should be regional representation in the National Coordinating Office.
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The National Planning effort should have a guidance structure like DMAC’s.
Two committees should be formed: one comprised of Regional Association and
national experts in education, extension and communications, and the other,
comprised of appropriate federal program managers for education, extension and
communications.
1.3.3 Formalize Interagency Collaboration (NEW)
Interagency collaboration in education, extension and communication should be
formalized.

The formalization should be consistent with the Ocean Action Plan and with the
developing OSTP framework.

Form an interagency working group with an interagency Education Program
Office linked to the organizational structure in the Ocean Action Plan should.
1.3.4 Participate in IOOS Planning
The education network allied with IOOS (see 1.3.1 above) should engage in IOOS
planning at multiple levels and time scales.

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An IOOS National Education Strategy1 should be updated every 5 years. An
IOOS Education Action Plan based on the 1st Annual IOOS Development Plan
should be created and updated annually to reflect adjustments in priorities and
funds. The results of the action plan should be assessed formally.
See 1st Annual IOOS Development Plan and the IOOS/COOS and education workshop report:
Promoting Lifelong Ocean Education: Using the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) to Shape
Tomorrow’s Earth Stewards and the Science and Technology Workforce)
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
Education should participate in DMAC planning and DMAC in education
planning to ensure that data management planning effectively addresses the needs
of education. Education planning should have guidance structures like for DMAC
(see 1.2.2 Bullet 4 above).

Develop education key messages and themes with regional ones nested within
national ones based on the seven IOOS societal goals incorporating the
developing Ocean Literacy Guidelines as appropriate. Use these messages and
themes in all IOOS allied education endeavors.

Carry-out Needs Assessments for the workforce allied with IOOS and for the
public’s understanding of the oceans role in their lives (via the seven IOOS
societal goals). In other areas, review recent needs assessments to identify gaps: a)
use known needs to guide IOOS education, extension and communications
planning, development and implementation; b) use pilot projects/test beds to
inform planning and implementation in areas where best practices do not exist.
1.3.5 Design Learning Materials to Meet Regional Needs Within the IOOS
National Framework
Learning materials should be targeted to specific audiences and designed to meet regional
needs with a simple mechanism for modification/extension/expansion to other IOOS
regions.

Utilize key messages and themes (see 1.3.4 Bullet 3 above) to unite learning
materials for various audiences and regions.

Provide suite of related materials for different audiences and regions: a) design
and develop regional versions of data products such as visualizations; incorporate
into learning materials; b) craft learning materials (education product) to target
specific audiences (e.g., undergraduates, K-12 classrooms, local decision makers,
tourists, boaters (recreational, charter, commercial), etc.); tailor those materials to
regional differences in audience need and practices, and in the key messages and
themes.

Strive for products that a) are broadly useful, b) are developed to address a
specific audience need, c) incorporate practices of target audience(s), d) consider
multi-cultural needs and concerns, and e) use best practices from education
research to guide product development process.
1.3.6 Carry-out Education Research Focused on Best Practices (NEW)

Evaluate and assess effectiveness of education efforts and practices (see also 1.2.1
bullet 1 above).

Identify, disseminate, and foster usage of educational practices that are highly
effective.
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2. Implementing the 1st Annual IOOS Development Plan
The recommendations summarized above map directly to the 1st Annual Plan and provide
guidelines for prioritized, phased implementation of elements of that plan as indicated
below.
2.1 Coastal Inundation
2.1.1 Repeat bathy-topographic/benthic-land cover surveys (1)
Enhancements to in situ observations and remote sensing are recommended in Part III,
Section 3.2.7. Key pilot projects recommended in Part III (Sections 6.2.1 and 6.2.2) are:
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Surface Current Mapping;
Coastal Erosion, Sediment Transport and Shoreline Position; and
Benthic Habitat Mapping Across the EEZ.
2.1.2 Land-based inputs of freshwater, sediments, nutrients, and
contaminants (3)
Enhancements to in situ observations and remote sensing are recommended in Part III,
Section 3.2.6.
2.1.3 Sea level, tides, wind, current, wave, SSS fields (EEZ); DART
Buoys (5, 6, and 7)
Enhancements to in situ observations and remote sensing are recommended in Part III,
Sections 3.2.1 and 3.2.2. Pilot projects for developing remote sensing capabilities for
coastal marine systems are also recommended.
2.2 DMAC
The recommended actions outlined above for DMAC map well onto the 1st IOOS
Implementation Conference consensus recommendations and resulting IOOS
Development Plan dealing with DMAC interoperability standards oversight, DMAC
interoperability infrastructure, and DMAC test beds.
2.2.1 DMAC interoperability standards oversight, the following
recommendation were made:
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Support the DMAC Steering Team functions and activities.
Implement immediately the critical path DMAC Expert Teams.
Establish and support the DMAC Community Engagement Caucuses.
Provide for needed technical support contract services for the DMAC standards
process.
Invest in regional DMAC activities.
Establish appropriate counterparts to national DMAC Steering Team at the
regional level.
2.2.2 DMAC Interoperability Infrastructure
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
Complete ongoing IOOS DMAC systems engineering effort
2.2.3 DMAC Test Beds

Identify, implement and support community test beds to evaluate candidate
DMAC standards. This approach enables an incremental process for standards
identification, supports both long-term and short-tem needs for DMAC standards,
fosters community “buy-in”, and provides an opportunity for private sector
participation.
2.3 Education
2.3.1
National Coordinating Office for Education and Public Awareness
Formation of a National Coordinating Office for IOOS allied education and public
awareness is recommended in Part III, Section 7.1; Figure 5 Step 1.
2.3.2 Participate in Governance of IOOS
Participation of the IOOS education, extension and communications community in the
governance of IOOS is recommended in Part III, Section 7.1; Figure 5 Step 1 (see IOOSCOOS and Education Workshop Report Figure 2 for the details of the recommendations
that are incorporated into Part III, Figure 5 Step 1).
2.3.3 Participate in IOOS Planning
Participation of the IOOS education, extension and communications community in the
planning of IOOS is recommended in Part III, Section 7.1; Figure 5 Step 1.
2.3.4 Design Learning Materials to Meet Regional Needs Within the IOOS
National Framework
The design of learning materials targeted to specific audiences and regions within the
framework of the IOOS seven societal goals is recommended in Part III, Section 7.2;
Figure 5 Step 2.
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