Full document / COSOC-W-86-002 - the National Sea Grant Library

Estuarine andCoastal Management • Tools ofthe Abstract only
Trade. Proceedingsof theTenthNationalConference
of TheCoastal Society. October12-15.1986. New
Orleans.LA. Copyrightby TheCoastalSociety
1987.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
ON A PERSONAL COMPUTER
Elaine V. Collins
National Oceanographic DataCenter/NESDIS/NOAA
2001 Wisconsin Avenue. NW
Washington,D.C 20235
Information management is often considered in terms oflarge computer systems, such as
mainframes or at least minicomputers. However, with the advances and sophistication available in
personal computers, it is possible to have a complete system for environmental information for a
coastal areacontained within a desk-top computer. Two such systems have been developed, and a
third is being planned. The systems are intended to provide a rapid screening capability for
plannersand decision-makers, but they arenot intended to supplant data management systems, nor
moreelaborate geographical information systems.
Under a combination of federalor private foundation funding, the first prototype system
was developed for information from the Port of New York and New Jersey, and the second
system was developed for the Portof New Orleans. Space-specific and use-specific information
on local pons, estuaries, facilities, etc. is available for both areas, as well as general information,
references, and a glossary of terms. The systems were developed at the State University of New
York at Stony Brook, using the capabilitiesof the commercial software Lotus 1-2-3. Forboth
systems, specific regional information requirements were identified, as well as sources. The
specificacquisition of the dataandentrance into spreadsheets followed. Output programs and
products werewrittennext. In the final task, the system wasdocumented.
Because of the current high level of interest by the public, and by state and federal
governments, the third system being planned is one for the Chesapeake Bay. The system will
attemptto incorporate informationon many of the concernsidentified in the Bay RestorationPlan,
such as point and non-point nutrients, dissolved oxygen, toxic substances, living resources,
fishingareas, etc. The system will enabletheuserto explore relationships between problemsand
possible causes.
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