E nvironmental R esponse
M anagement A pplication
Training Session
Michele Jacobi & Jill Bodnar
Dec. 2009

Class Outline
• Overview/ background on ERMA
• Review data found in ERMA
• Show a few examples of ERMA capabilities
• Try an example scenario
• Discuss next steps in development and user needs

ERMA Background
• ERMA was developed as a joint project from the
Coastal Response Research Center and NOAA’s
Office of Response and Restoration
• Caribbean ERMA was funded through EPA region 2

Continuum of “Response” for the OR&R
Response
(24 hours)
Emergency
Response Division
(ERD)
Assessment and
Restoration Division
(ARD)
Restoration -
Recovery
(Years to
Decades)

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words…
• Diverse datasets can be interlaced on a single map to better visualize a the complex nature of an area

Concept for ERMA
Open Source, Web-based mapping tools
Planning & Analysis
Integrate & Analyze Information
Improved Communication & Coordination

ERMA Functional Requirements
• Easily accessible
• Field, Command Post, External Offices
• Quick to display
• Complementary to Digital ACP project, and other systems; integrates ‘one-plan’ concept
• User friendly interface
• For the non-GIS experts
• Secure, multi-tailored password protection
• Public interface
• Responder interface
• Super-user interface

ERMA Capabilities
• Various data types
• Static – Existing agency data lives on ERMA
• Real-time – Streams into ERMA from external servers
(WMS, WFS)
• Data upload & download
• Easy to share most up-to-date data via single interface
• Tools
• On the fly map labeling
• On the fly regions of interests
• On the fly layers management

ERMA Schematic View
9

Output to User
Download/Upload Source
Feature Server
Open Layers
Other GIS Data
• AIS
• NowCoast
• ENCs
• Real Time Obs
Web Mapping
Service (Feature)
Secure Server Authentication
Encryption (128kb)
Data Layer Management
Access Privileges
MapServer
ERMA Architecture
Public datasets
• ESI
• Landuse
• Bathymetry
• Regional Monitoring
• Habitat Classifications
PostGres/
PostGIS
Data Base
Sensitive datasets
• Incident data
• ACPs
• SCAT Results
• Trajectories
• Etc….
10

ERMA Caribbean Area of Interest

Caribbean Collaboration Partners
For ERMA
• NOAA
• NOS- OCS, NCCOS, CSC, ORR
• NWS
• NESDIS
• NMFS
• U.S. EPA Region 2
• USCG- District 7, Sector San Juan
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• National Parks Service
• FL Fish and Wildlife Research
Institute
• Puerto Rico
• Department Natural Resources
• Environmental Quality Board
• Department of Planning
• Virgin Islands Department Natural
Resources
• University Virgin Islands
• British Virgin Island National GIS
Coordinator
• Port Authority Isla Grande
• National Response Corporation
• Coral Bay Community Council
• The Nature Conservancy

ArcMap Projects were Assembled

Easy Internet Access to Data
14

Site Basics
• Secure access
• Username/Password
• Various levels of access
(Public, Responder, NRDA)
• Background Layers
• Aerial, terrain, roads
• Nautical charts
• Incident information
• Trajectories
• Field teams
• SCAT data
• Real-time feed
• Weather, buoys, ship tracking, etc.
• Resources at Risk
• NOAA ESI data layers
• Local habitat and species datasets
• Document & photo links
• ESI and GRPs PDFs
• Field Photos
• External links

Data Management and UserTools
• Data Layer Management
• Access privileges
• Legend creation
• Metadata
• Timeseries
• Upload/Download capacity
• Shapefiles
• PDFs
• Photos (Photologger)
• Area of Interest
• On-the-fly points, lines, and polygons
• Map Labels
• Measurement Tools
• Length
• Area
• Zoom To
• Lat/Long
• Place name
• Bookmark
• Saves layers and location
• Print
• Timestamp
• Various page sizes

Practical Implementation of ERMA
• Assist with spill preparedness
• Display jurisdictional boundaries, specially regulated areas, areas of socio-economic importance
• Access points for cleanup
• Staging areas and command centers
• Regional documentation, points of contact, etc.

Practical Implementation of ERMA
• Assist in coordinating response efforts
• Visualize magnitude and extent
• Triage sites for action
• Track progress of clean-up
• Access real-time data
• Upload data from the field and access forms
• Increase communication

Practical Implementation of ERMA
• Define the extent of potential impacts
• General habitat and land use information
• Areas of biological significance - haul outs, rookeries, nesting grounds, essential or critical habitat
• Species-specific data - biological resources in the region - threatened or endangered?
• Where is there current monitoring data

Practical Implementation of ERMA
• Assist in Recovery and Restoration
• Access existing environmental monitoring sites
• Assist with sampling design
• Inventory restoration projects
• Locate long-term monitoring sites
• Coordinate with regional projects

Digitized GRPs with data links

Digitized GRPs with data links
23

Example Data: Environmental
Sensitivity Index Layers
24

Example Data: Environmental
Sensitivity Index Layers
25

NOAA Trajectory: 48 Hours
Trajectories can be updated over time and displayed with additional datasets like ESI

Example Data: Environmental
Quality- 303d listed streams
27

Example Data: EPA Regulated Facilities
28

29

Real-time vessel traffic from AIS

Bioresources overlaid with charts
31

Weather and Observation Buoys
32

Example Data: Forecasted Weather
33

Photographs and Layer Updates posted
34

Response data Updated & posted
35

Spatial Data Layers
• GRPs-
(historic versions digitized and currently being updated)
• Environmental Sensitivity Index
(PR and VI)
• Marine Protected Areas
• Socio-economic features
• Habitat Classifications
• Regional specific data
(ESA coral, contaminant monitoring, ???)
• Imagery
• Navigation Charts
(Raster/ Electronic)
• Weather Observations and Buoy Data

Next Steps for ERMA?
• Caribbean ERMA
• Enhance tools and print functions
• Stand alone version for static data
• Acquire more datasets????
• SONS exercise support in New England
• Puget Sound ERMA

For More Info
Michele.Jacobi@noaa.gov
Jill.Bodnar@noaa.gov
https://caribbean.erma.unh.edu/