# The IWG-OCM Inventory

### What is IWG-OCM?

IWG-OCM is the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping,
which was established by the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and
Technology (JSOST).

(http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_iwgs.html)

### On what authority is IWG-OCM making an inventory?

The inventory answers the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, the Energy Policy Act
of 2005, and OMB Circular A-16.

### What will the inventory do?

The inventory will increase the efficiency of the nation\'s ocean and
coastal mapping activities. It will offer a clearinghouse for data and
interpretive information, and a registry of completed and projected
mapping activities, that will reduce duplication of efforts and enable
cooperative activities. The inventory portal will increase the value of
data and information resources, initially by facilitating access to
appropriate data, and later by facilitating integration of data and map
products. Ultimately the inventory should serve as the platform for the
development of new tools for data integration and application.

### How is the inventory related to similar activities?

The inventory will be consistent with Geospatial One-Stop, inter-agency
efforts underway to develop an Integrated Ocean Observing System, and
best practices derived from a review of existing data inventory tools.
It will leverage and provide interoperability among agency-specific and
special purpose inventories.

### What will the inventory include? 

[Timing:]{.underline} The inventory will provide up-to-date information
about planned and completed mapping activities in an activity registry.

[Mapping activities:]{.underline} The activity registry will include
federally funded activities that fund/collect/provide data within the
scope of the inventory, and federally funded activities that use/need
such data.

[Data types:]{.underline} The inventory will include all types of
geospatial data, and also non-geospatial data that describe the
morphology, texture, or composition of the solid earth (for example,
aerial photographs and seismic profiles).

[Geographical boundaries:]{.underline} The IWG-OCM Inventory will
include the US EEZ, extended continental shelf areas claimed under the
Law of the Sea, and the Great Lakes. On land, it will include regions
that fall within the U.S. coastal zone.

### What are initial priorities?

[High priority services:]{.underline} The inventory's first task will be
the construction of the activity registry, and a searchable inventory
(using both geospatial display and advanced query options) of available
data with information on how to get the data.

[High priority data types:]{.underline} The inventory will initially
focus on elevation data (bathymetry/hydrography/topography, shorelines),
surface characterization (sea floor mapping, landcover), and seismic
data. Data and products with national scope or temporal changes such as
elevation, shoreline, and surface characterization will be a major
focus.

### What will be included in the future?

Future efforts will focus on inclusion of real-time data and interactive
models; information and data that are not federally funded; and tools
for data integration, visualization and analysis.

### What is the next step?

In September 2007, an interagency workshop will be held to recommend a
design for the inventory and set timelines for implementation

### Who is going to pay for the inventory?

The inventory is being developed through coordination of agency
activities that are already funded.

### Who should I contact for more information?

Contact a member of the IWG-OCM Technical Working Group

  ------------ ------------------------------- ---------- --------- ------------------------
  Steve Kopach Stephen.Kopach@mms.gov          Robby                Robert.Wilson@noaa.gov
                                               Wilson               

  Jim Fulmer   James.Fulmer@mms.gov            Fran                 flightsom@usgs.gov
                                               Lightsom             

  Eddie        charles.e.wiggins@us.army.mil                        
  Wiggins                                                           
  ------------ ------------------------------- ---------- --------- ------------------------