Performance and Progress Report - John Doe FIX: put in the authors ...

provided from the survey vessel we were able to position the ROV’s in the context of the
3-D bathymetry. This effort went on for almost two weeks with a regular watch
schedule maintained by all centers (i.e., there was someone on watch at all times).
Interspersed with the scientific efforts were a number of broadcasts aimed at a much
wider audience. This past year we participated (through telepresence) in an NOAA
Ocean Exploration-sponsored expedition to the Black Sea and the Aegean.
The ramifications for this sort of facility are manifest. Not only does this open up many
new opportunities for shore-based scientists to participate in sea-going programs it also
has a tremendous outreach component as groups can be brought in (or the video
transferred) to share the real-time exploration experience. Most importantly, from a
NOAA perspective, it opens up the opportunity for providing real-time support for seagoing
programs where a processing (or other) problem arises. Data can be transferred
back to shore-based experts, evaluated and feed back provided to the vessel with minimal
delay.
Training: In addition to the formal training for NOAA and non-NOAA personnel done
at the Center, Center staff have also been called upon to provide training or input for a
number of groups and organizations within NOAA (e.g., Calder called upon to provide
input at the Field Procedures Workshop, Alexander called upon for input to many
organizations on ENC standards; IHO held its Open ECDIS forum at the Center,
Rzhanov asked to give workshops on imagery mosaicking, Fonseca asked to give
workshops on sonar mosaicking, Open NAV Surface meeting at the Center, etc.).
Outreach: We have formalized our outreach activities (with the addition of Briana
Sullivan to the staff) and are actively working to increase the usefulness of our website
(http://www.ccom.unh.edu) as well as develop museum displays (see visualization
section above), and materials and programs that will help share the results of our efforts
with the broader community. We have hosted a number of community groups (highschool
students, marine docents, etc.) and the activities of the Center have, this year, been
featured in many other international (and local) media outlets.
PARTNERSHIPS AND ANCILLARY PROGRAMS:
One of the goals of the JHC is, through its partner organization, the Center for Coastal
and Ocean Mapping, to establish collaborative arrangements with private sector and other
government organizations. Our involvement with Tyco has been instrumental in the
University securing a 5 million dollar endowment; 1 million dollars of this endowment
has been earmarked for support of post-doctoral fellows at the Center for Coastal and
Ocean Mapping. Our interaction with the private sector has been formalized into an
Industrial Associates Program that is continually growing.
At present members of the Industrial Associates Program are:
JHC Performance Report 54 30 January 2007