Overview of NOAA's Exclusive Economic Zone Survey PROGRAM

NOAA's National Ocean Service has begun a new program of mapping the ocean floor within the United States' Exclusive Economic Zone. The program will produce base maps to support the exploration, exploitation, conservation and management of natural resources in this vast area which is now under national sovereignty. This is a cooperative effort with the United States Geological Survey and a part of a Federal program in support of the Exclusive Economic Zone. The primary mission of the program is to produce accurate, high resolution bathymetric data using modern multibeam swath mapping systems. NDAA is currently applying its two systems - a Sea Beam and a Bathymetric Swath Survey System (BS³)- to this task. Additional systems are to be installed. Characteristics of these systems and the positioning equipment being used as well as the data processing techniques being employed will be examined and related to the data products which are being prepared. Mapping progress to date will be reviewed and survey plans described. Opportunities for acquisition of other data in conjuction with the planned surveys will be presented.