# The IWG-OCM Inventory

### What is IWG-OCM?

IWG-OCM is the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping.
It is one of five working groups established by the Joint Subcommittee
on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST).
(<http://ocean.ceq.gov/about/sup_jsost_iwgs.html>)

### What is the authority for the IWG-OCM inventory?

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

<http://ocean.ceq.gov/>

<http://www.energy.gov/about/EPAct.htm>,
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a016/a016.html>

### What will the inventory do?

The inventory is designed to 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. This will reduce duplication of efforts
and enable cooperative activities.

The web-based data portal will initially help users discover and access
to data to meet their needs. Later the portal will facilitate
integration of data and map products from different agencies. Ultimately
the inventory should serve as a platform for the development of new
tools for data integration and investigation.

### How is the inventory related to other mapping inventories?

The inventory will be consistent with Geospatial One-Stop. It will also
be consistent with inter-agency efforts to develop an Integrated Ocean
Observing System. To the extent possible, the inventory will take
advantage of services offered by existing 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 or need
such data.

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

[Geographical boundaries:]{.underline} The IWG-OCM Inventory will
include the US Exclusive Economic Zone, 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 classifications),
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                                                           
  ------------ ------------------------------- ---------- --------- ------------------------

**Where can I find Inventory examples?**

Geospatial One-Stop

http://www.geodata.gov

RAMONA GIS Inventory

http://gisinventory.net

NOAA Data Explorer

http://www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/dataexplorer

National Digital Elevation Program (NDEP)

http://www.ndep.gov

Priority Habitat Information System (PHINS)

http://ecowatch.ncddc.noaa.gov/habid_public