Integrated Ocean & Coastal Mapping

Spatial Priorities Studies

Results Available: Florida Coastal Mapping Program (FCMaP) Prioritization 2: Deepwater (20-200m)

The Florida Coastal Mapping Program (FCMaP) and NOAA's IOCM Program conducted a spatial prioritization exercise for Florida waters between 20 and 200m depth to determine the implementation of systemic mapping in deeper waters around florida and to understand the full scope of the community's need for deep water data. Results are available on the US Mapping Coordination site, and on the FCMaP Hub Site.

What are the Spatial Priorities Studies?

The IWG-OCM is conducting multiple Spatial Priorities Studies, which comprehensively gather the priorities of ocean and coastal mapping partners and those that rely on coastal and ocean mapping data. This study asks IOCM partners to define areas where they need mapping data in our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes, and say briefly why and what they want to do with it. This work is done in support of the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration and Characterization Strategy.

Screenshot of USGS submission response over Washington and Oregon, on the U.S. Mapping Coordination website.

How do Spatial Priorities Studies Support NOMEC?

These studies will allow Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IOCM) partners to see where there are overlaps in requirements so that resources can be allocated efficiently. Other study goals include enabling participants to better coordinate and leverage resources where there is a shared mapping need.

Which Studies Have Been Completed?

So far, four studies have been completed:

the NOAA Spatial Priorities Study (nationwide, NOAA offices only)
the Great Lakes Spatial Priorities Study (Great Lakes region only, government and non-government participants)
the IWG-OCM Spatial Priorities Study (nationwide, federal agencies only).
the Alaska Spatial Priorities Study (Alaska region only, government and non-government participants)

More information about each study can be found below.

NOAA Spatial Priorities Study

	Participants: Over a dozen NOAA offices across the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the National Weather Service (NWS), the National Ocean Service (NOS), and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).
	Geographic Scope: Areas from twenty (20) kilometers inland to the extent of the EEZ, including Canadian waters in the Great Lakes.
	Results: These study results can be found on our U.S. Mapping Coordination Site. Tech Memo Recording of the Seminar on the NOAA Spatial Priorities Study

Map showing the number of NOAA offices that participated in the study with High Priority (data needed within 1-2 years) interests in the Continental U.S.

Great Lakes Spatial Priorities Study

Collaborators: The Great Lakes Spatial Priorities Study was a collaborative effort between NOAA's IOCM program, the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), and other organizations, including the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and USGS.

	Participants: Over thirty organizations throughout the Great Lakes in both U.S. and Canadian waters, including federal agencies, state governments, provincial governments, tribal governments and organizations, academia, conservation organizations, and other institutions.
	Geographic Scope: The Great Lakes only, extending ten (10) kilometers inland.
	Results: These study results can be found on our U.S. Mapping Coordination Site. Recording of the Seminar on the Great Lakes Spatial Priorities Study

Map showing the number of organizations with High Priority (data needed within 1-2 years) interests in the Great Lakes.

IWG-OCM Spatial Priorities Study

	Participants: Several federal agencies, including USGS, USCG, NPS, and BOEM.
	Geographic Scope: Areas from twenty (20) kilometers inland to the extent of the EEZ, including Canadian waters in the Great Lakes.
	Results: These study results can be found on our U.S. Mapping Coordination Site. Recording of the IWG-OCM Seminar on the NOAA Spatial Priorities Study

Alaska Spatial Priorities Study

	Collaborators: The Alaska Spatial Priorities Study was a collaborative effort between NOAA's IOCM program and the Alaska Coastal Mapping Initiative.
	Participants: Over twenty five organizations throughout Alaska, including state agencies, federal agencies, boroughs, tribal corporations and organizations, academia, and others.
	Geographic Scope: Alaska only, extending twenty (20) kilometers inland.
	Results: These study results can be found on our U.S. Mapping Coordination Site. Recording of the Seminar on the Alaska Spatial Priorities Study

Map of Showing Number of Organizations with High Priority (data needed within 1-2 years) interests in Alaska.

What's next?

"IOCM has two Spatial Priorities Studies in progress. The FCMaP Prioritization 2: Deep-water (20-200m) study is concerned with Florida waters between 20-200m deep, results for this study will be available early 2024. IOCM is also working with the Mid-Atlantic region(encompassing the MARCO states of Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York) to begin implementation of a priority study.

These studies act to survey regional stakeholders, including state governments, local governments, tribal governments and corporations, fisheries organizations, academia, and other interest groups on their mapping needs and priorities. If you are interested in contributing to this study- please contact us at iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov.

The studies are intended to help support NOMEC goals by making it easier for mapping organizations to identify shared areas of interest.

To contact us about these results or learn more about these studies, please email iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov