![](media/image1.wmf){width="1.2in" height="0.99375in"}

Regional Sediment Management System and Potential NASA Data Support

Coastal Management Integrated Product Team

Science Systems & Applications, Inc.

John C. Stennis Space Center, Mississippi

Acknowledgments

This work was directed by the NASA Applied Sciences Directorate at the
John C. Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. Participation in this work by
Science Systems & Applications, Inc., was supported under NASA Task
Order NNS04AB54T.

# Table of Contents {#table-of-contents .Heading-NoTOC}

[Executive Summary iv](#executive-summary)

[1.0 Regional Sediment Management Background
1](#regional-sediment-management-background)

[2.0 RSM Geographic Information System Details
3](#rsm-geographic-information-system-details)

[2.1 RSM GIS Essential Datasets 3](#rsm-gis-essential-datasets)

[2.2 RSM GIS Data Engineering Toolset
4](#rsm-gis-data-engineering-toolset)

[2.2.1 Regional Sediment Budget Tool 5](#regional-sediment-budget-tool)

[2.2.2 Ground Photo Tool 6](#ground-photo-tool)

[2.2.3 Dredge Data Reporting Tool 7](#dredge-data-reporting-tool)

[2.2.4 Profile Tool 8](#profile-tool)

[2.2.5 Volume-Compute Tool 8](#volume-compute-tool)

[2.2.6 GIS Management Assistance Tools
9](#gis-management-assistance-tools)

[2.3 RSM Numerical Models 9](#rsm-numerical-models)

[3.0 Potential NASA Inputs to RSM Decision Support
10](#potential-nasa-inputs-to-rsm-decision-support)

[4.0 Conclusions 13](#conclusions)

[5.0 References 14](#references)

[6.0 Bibliography 16](#bibliography)

# Tables {#tables .Heading-NoTOC}

[Table 1. Relevant sensor requirements for coastal ocean applications.
10](#__RefHeading___Toc121040702)

[Table 2. Spectral band coverage for MODIS, VIIRS, and GOES-R HES-CW
sensors. 12](#__RefHeading___Toc121040703)

[Table 3. RSM needs and NASA data input match -- current and some future
sensors. 14](#__RefHeading___Toc121040704)

[Table 4. RSM GIS DSS and potentially useful NASA numerical models.
14](#__RefHeading___Toc121040705)

# Figures {#figures .Heading-NoTOC}

[Figure 1. Northern Gulf of Mexico Mobile district RSM domain.
3](#__RefHeading___Toc121040706)

[Figure 2. Initial sediment budget mapping.
6](#__RefHeading___Toc121040707)

[Figure 3. A screen capture of the photo-viewing tool screen.
7](#__RefHeading___Toc121040708)

[Figure 4. Dredge data reporting tool screen. The arrows indicate the
area searched. 7](#__RefHeading___Toc121040709)

[Figure 5. Profile tool result using dense SHOALS survey data.
8](#__RefHeading___Toc121040710)

[Figure 6. Volume-compute tool screen. 9](#__RefHeading___Toc121040711)

# Executive Summary {#executive-summary .unnumbered}

The Regional Sediment Management (RSM) decision support system (DSS) is
the brainchild of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The RSM
development was spurred by prime requirements placed upon the USACE by
Congress and by standing USACE policies.

The RSM geographic information system (GIS) requires specific input data
coverage, including hydrodynamic, meteorological, bathymetric,
topographic, aerial photography, and dredge-archived data. The
bathymetric and topographic data collected by the Scanning Hydrographic
Operational Airborne Lidar Survey (SHOALS) system has become quite
important because of its currency, accuracy, and spatial resolution. The
SHOALS system quickly maps relevant topographic and bathymetric areas at
high spatial density using time-of-flight measurements of laser pulses.

The RSM GIS system employs several custom tools that are basic to
sediment management practices: a regional sediment budget tool, a ground
photo tool, a profile tool, a dredge data tool, a sediment volume
computation tool, and GIS management tools.

Numerical models are coupled to the system so that they are calibrated
by the data ingested and combined within the GIS. Once the models
complete their run(s), the results can be displayed in the GIS for easy
comprehension of the movement, loss, or accumulation of sediment for the
study area. Models often used are Steady Wave, the Advanced Circulation
Multidimensional Hydrodynamic Model, the Generalized Model for
Simulating Shoreline Change, and a reservoir model.

Potential NASA contributions to this DSS include updating/augmenting the
aerial photo database (or library) that is presently used. Landsat 7
and/or the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection
Radiometer are current candidate sensors that could provide such data.
Also, other environmental data derivable from these data could supply
new and valuable layers to the RSM GIS; e.g., land cover/land use and
sea bottom type shape files in salient beach areas.

Future sensors such as those on the National Polar-orbiting
Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and the NPOESS Preparatory
Project platforms are considered -- as is the Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite Program (GOES)-R/ Hyperspectral Environmental
Suite (HES)-Coastal Waters (CW) platform. The Visible/Infrared
Imager/Radiometer Suite and the GOES-HES-CW could supply image data to
the RSM DSS; however, the spatial resolution of the imagery is somewhat
coarse for the central application considered. In the case of the
GOES-HES-CW, the enhanced spectral information embedded in the imagery
could aid to offset spatial resolution considerations.

Another potential NASA contribution involves use of multispectral data
from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard
both the Aqua and Terra satellite platforms. Because these satellites
follow one another in orbit, MODIS could map advancing, in-water
sediment fronts as they move from sources to depositional areas. Thus,
additional and valuable information on dispersal patterns can be used to
crosscheck numerical model outcomes. NASA numerical circulation models,
such as WAVEWATCH III and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
General Circulation Model, might contribute to the USACE RSM efforts as
well.

The USACE Regional Sediment Management DSS is still maturing; however,
NASA could contribute to this effort. It is suggested that discussions
proceed with the USACE concerning the use of NASA remote sensing data
for RSM DSS applications.

# Regional Sediment Management Background

Resource managers need relevant decision support tools to deal with
regional sediment sources and to make environmentally sound decisions
concerning transported sediments nationwide. Transported sediment, and
its associated aggradations in the contiguous United States, can cause
damages of \$16 billion a year. Sediment loads due to erosion of source
areas can cause elevated water turbidity that, in turn, causes excessive
sediment deposition in the nation's watercourses, streams, and rivers.
However, in some areas, a reduction in sediment supply can cause a
consequent reduction in land area and, in coastal and inland areas, a
loss of wetlands.

A sediment region is defined as the waters of a basin plus tributary and
adjacent lands extending from the source of sediment to its ultimate
destination. A regional sediment area may extend from the headwaters of
a river to the sea and include terrestrial, fluvial, lacustrine,
estuarine, littoral, and marine zones.

Regional sediment management (RSM) uses natural processes and the
consequences of human activities to ensure that water resource projects
can begin and continue in an economically and environmentally sensible
manner. RSM recognizes that any embedded ecosystem will respond outside
the spatial and temporal scales of individual projects and that regional
planning and engineering approaches must produce justifiable results at
both regional and national levels.

The primary Federal entity associated with RSM is the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE). Based on congressional directives, the Regional
Sediment Management Program (RSMP) was instituted for the purpose of
coastal resource conservation and for dealing with the disposal of
dredged materials (U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, 2004). The RSMP has
allowed the USACE to set up six demonstration projects that allow for
sediment management across an entire region, irrespective of state
boundaries. Although the demonstration projects have yielded some
success, significant barriers remain. Recent input from the Ocean
Commission stated that Congress will mandate the USACE to implement RSM
in all of the sediment-related projects that it undertakes. The Ocean
Commission also recommended that the USACE work jointly with sister
Federal agencies to further enhance RSM implementation.

For the USACE, successful water management requires that sediment issues
be resolved at both the local and regional levels. Rosati et al. (2001)
contains background information on RSM goals and procedures. However,
resource managers have typically lacked key information and tools needed
for informed decisions. This fundamental lack adversely affects
navigation, flood, and storm damage reduction efforts, and water
quality. Important requirements for the USACE in developing regional
sediment management capabilities derive from USACE (2002) such as the
following:

-   The Congressionally-mandated interagency Marine Transportation
    System (MTS) Task Force report provides a national vision for the
    MTS of 2020 and recommends R&D \[research and development\] on
    overall effective sediment management, including " . . . holistic
    watershed and local/regional planning efforts." (DOT Publication,
    1999)

-   The Corps' Strategic Campaign Plan states, "We strive to achieve
    greater public benefits from enhanced attention to both economic
    objectives and environmental values as we deliver our projects and
    services. We take a broad regional approach to the problems we
    address and provide a forum to bring together all of the federal
    agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector to
    find win-win solutions to these problems. We develop and implement
    comprehensive regional planning tools that can provide a strong
    scientific background for our decision processes."

-   The Corps strategic plans for navigation, flood and storm damage
    reduction, and environmental quality identify regional and
    basin-wide management capabilities as key Future Operating
    Capabilities.

-   USACE Policy Guidance Letter #61 (27 January 1999) directs that,
    "The Corps will integrate the watershed perspective into
    opportunities within, and among, Civil Works Programs."

-   A series of Corps' workshops have identified sediment management and
    tools for basin-wide analyses as high priority needs in both the
    short term and long term.

Given the mandate for sediment management, the USACE formulated the
Regional Sediment Management Program. The objective of the RSMP is to
provide the USACE with the tools and knowledge needed to manage sediment
on a regional basis so that water resources projects are economically
feasible and environmentally sustainable (USACE, 2002). More
specifically, the RSMP seeks to minimize disruption of natural sediment
pathways and to reconcile natural processes that adversely affect the
performance or regional impacts of USACE projects. To achieve this
objective, the RSMP established the following goals (USACE, 2002):

1.  Provide necessary knowledge and enabling technologies that will lead
    to improved capabilities for regional sediment management.

2.  Provide analytical techniques and models that give the USACE
    capability to characterize both regional-scale and local-scale
    project sediment impacts -- sediment yield, transport, and fate --
    and to evaluate management alternatives.

3.  Provide guidance for planning designing, constructing, operating,
    and maintaining water resource projects to effectively manage
    sediment from a regional perspective and to manage individual
    projects within the context of regional sediment management
    objectives.

4.  Produce an information and knowledge (informatics) environment
    complete with data, software tools, and procedures that facilitate
    effective Corps business practices and decision-making in regional
    sediment management.

5.  Rapidly and effectively, transfer the products from this program to
    Corps of Engineers personnel, insert its tools into Corps'
    practices, inform and be informed by stakeholders, and facilitate
    mutually beneficial exchanges with other organizations.

To achieve these goals, the RSMP has adopted existing tools/methods
dealing with geospatial technologies, decision support systems (DSSs),
land management, environmental quality, and dredging. The RSMP is
working with ongoing demonstration projects, such as Demonstration
Erosion Control, the Great Lakes Sediment Management Program, the
National RSM Demonstration Program, and with the programs of other
government agencies and organizations.

# RSM Geographic Information System Details

The USACE, Mobile District, initiated a Regional Sediment Management
Demonstration Program (RSMDP) in 1999. The USACE has extant RSM
demonstration projects in the Great Lakes, the Pacific Northwest,
southern California, the northern Gulf of Mexico, New England, New
York/New Jersey, North Carolina/Virginia, and northeast Florida. For the
purposes of this report, the first RSM demonstration project within the
Mobile District is described.

The Mobile District RSMDP covered 360 km of Gulf of Mexico shoreline
stretching from the west end of Dauphin Island, Alabama, east to
Apalachicola Bay, Florida (Figure 1). The demonstration region
encompassed nine federal navigation projects and one federal beach
nourishment project. Reliable and effective sand management and
engineering requires terrain models that fully represent the study
region. In complex coastal areas, high-resolution bathymetric and
topographic coverage is essential for reliable calculation of sand
volumes.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image2.png){width="5.613194444444445in"                     |
| height="1.9402777777777778in"}                                        |
|                                                                       |
| Source: USACE                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| []{#__RefHeading___Toc121040706 .anchor}Figure 1. Northern Gulf of    |
| Mexico Mobile district RSM domain.                                    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

## RSM GIS Essential Datasets

Data management and geographic information system (GIS) tools were
required to manage, visualize, and analyze the data streams collected
over a given region. RSM uses commercially available ESRI^®^ ArcGIS^®^
software.

Certain RSM GIS database collections are considered essential to perform
regional sediment management. Such databases include: 1)
hydrodynamic/meteorological data, 2) waves, water levels, currents,
winds, and storm data, 3) historic/current bathymetric, topographic,
dredge, and shoreline data, and 4) georeferenced and/or orthorectified
aerial photography.

The baseline data for the RSMDP included three types of hydrographic and
topographic data: 1) single-beam echo-sounder data, 2) multi-beam
echo-sounder data, and 3) airborne lidar bathymetry and topography. The
most extensive dataset used to create the RSM baseline dataset was
bathymetry data obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC). The
distance between adjacent points in the NGDC data generally ranges from
300 m near shore to 1,500 m farther offshore.

A key data type included in the RSM baseline data is that collected by
the USACE Scanning Hydrographic Operational Airborne Lidar Survey
(SHOALS) system (Lillycrop et al., 1994; Wozencraft and Irish, 2000).
These data were collected at a density of 4 m horizontally for project
surveying. SHOALS is capable of accurate, high-spatial-resolution
topographic and bathymetric data collection by using a pulsed laser
transmitter and by measuring time-of-flight of each returning pulse to
the SHOALS detector(s).

The NGDC data in the RSM baseline dataset normally cover offshore areas
that extend beyond SHOALS survey data coverage. However, if SHOALS
survey data are available for an area, the NGDC data are replaced by
SHOALS data. Each of the datasets was subsequently converted to common
horizontal and vertical data parameters. The horizontal datum chosen for
use was the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection defined by
the North American Datum 1983 (NAD83). The vertical datum chosen for use
was the North American Vertical Datum 1988 (NAVD88).

Archived dredging project records are stored in a custom-designed GIS
database. Stored data include relevant dredging histories for the RSMDP
region. Dredging event traits contained in the dredge material database
include associated removal sites, dredge material quantities, placement
sites, dredge contractors, and costs of the dredging contract.

NOAA nautical charts serve as background for other graphic entities
built into the RSM GIS. These charts were re-projected and later cleaned
to remove superfluous graphics and text. The charts were then colorized
to regain the appearance of nautical charts. The GeoTIFF format was the
final format selected because it could be readily incorporated into the
RSM GIS.

Aerial and ground photos are integrated into the RSM GIS. Selected
images are mosaically placed using the Image Analysis extension of ESRI
ArcView^®^. The images are then imported into ESRI ArcInfo^®^, converted
into grids, and re-projected to the desired projection. The projected
grids are converted back into image files and compressed using
LizardTech™ MrSID^®^ software. Ground photographs with concomitant
descriptions are scanned and saved in JPEG file interchange formats. The
associated descriptions are saved as text files. The photos are viewed
with corresponding descriptive data displayed via the "Historical
Photos" application inside the RSM GIS.

The Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER)
database was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau. The TIGER database,
which is recorded at the county level, includes roads, railroads,
hydrography, transportation information, power lines, pipelines,
municipal boundaries, schools, churches, parks, cemeteries, and certain
geographic locations (e.g., shopping centers and churches). These data
are provided as GIS shapefiles and were directly imported into the RSM
GIS.

## RSM GIS Data Engineering Toolset

Once the data are ingested into the RSM GIS, they can be manipulated for
further analysis. For example, a triangulated irregular network (TIN)
can be created with the topographic and bathymetric baseline data using
the ArcView extension 3D Analyst™. A TIN computes a continuous surface
from irregularly spaced, three-dimensional data. These surfaces provide
more accurate volume reckoning, which is needed to determine total
change in material at a given site.

Another example of GIS baseline data manipulation is the determination
of shoreline positions. The definition of a shoreline for coastal
applications is the extent of the mean high water (MHW) line on a beach.
The MHW was found by marking points (heads-up digitizing) along the
debris line seen on orthorectified aerial photos. Using the X-tools
extension in ArcView, the marked MHW points were connected by
interpolation.

The custom GIS-based applications developed using ESRI Avenue scripts in
ArcView and Microsoft^®^ Visual Basic^®^ programs also assist
engineering analyses. The following engineering toolset was developed
and is considered basic for RSM GIS:

1.  Regional sediment budget (RSB) tool that produces regional sediment
    budgets, including budgets at sub-regional and project levels

2.  Ground photo tool

3.  Dredge data reporting tool

4.  Profile tool

5.  Volume-compute tool

6.  GIS management assistance tools

### Regional Sediment Budget Tool

A key element for successful RSM implementation is an RSB estimate. The
RSB helps to identify longshore sediment transport rates, sediment
transport trajectories, and aggradation and degradation areas, and
targets the causes of beach and bathymetry shifts over an area of
interest.

An initial sediment budget was produced based on accessible historical
data and use of the Sediment Budget Analysis System (SBAS) method
(Rosati and Kraus, 2001). The SBAS is incorporated into the RSM GIS to
perform RSB estimates. The SBAS maps the relative sediment transport
over a region of interest. An initial sediment budget provides insight
into sediment movement while targeting regions where further field data
collection might be needed. The initial sediment budget for the RSMDP is
shown in Figure 2.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image3.png){width="6.1930555555555555in"                    |
| height="2.022222222222222in"}                                         |
|                                                                       |
| Source: USACE                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| []{#__RefHeading___Toc121040707 .anchor}Figure 2. Initial sediment    |
| budget mapping.                                                       |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

The regional sediment budget included data that used baseline
hydrographic surveys, dredging/ placement records, and regional
numerical models. That is, the RSM GIS can be used to actively couple
together engineering data and relevant ocean circulation models.

### Ground Photo Tool

Aerial photography and ground-based photography can contain valuable
visual information showing the status of beaches, dunes, offshore
shoals, and other coastal features. Such photos were desired for
inclusion in the GIS, even though no positioning information would be
available. Hence, an oblique photo tool was created. The tool connects
(via hotlinks) the photos to the areas where they were taken.

Figure 3 shows the custom oblique photo-viewing tool built for the RSM
GIS. The left side of the screen shows a thumbnail view of a photo taken
at East Pass, Florida, while the right side of the screen contains the
photo location, the date the photo was taken, and a caption stored for
the photo.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="5.070138888888889in"
height="3.1805555555555554in"}

Source: USACE

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc121040708 .anchor}Figure 3. A screen capture of
the photo-viewing tool screen.

### Dredge Data Reporting Tool

The dredge data-reporting tool provides access to the dredge archive
database (Figure 4). This tool can list all known dredging events from
the dredge material database for a particular area. A scroll-down list
allows the user to select a Dredging Report. The user can also select a
candidate navigation waterway from the RSM GIS spatial database and can
view every dredging report for that particular channel.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image5.jpeg){width="4.456944444444445in"                    |
| height="3.0833333333333335in"}                                        |
|                                                                       |
| Source: USACE                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| []{#__RefHeading___Toc121040709 .anchor}Figure 4. Dredge data         |
| reporting tool screen. The arrows indicate the area searched.         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

### Profile Tool

The profile tool allows extraction of beach nearshore and shoreline
profiles from high-spatial-resolution datasets. The profiles can be
extracted using hand-drawn line objects. The tool creates a set of
elevations along a drawn line. The elevations are based on surfaces
computed using area databases of hydrography/topography records
contained in the RSM GIS. Figure 5 exhibits a typical
nearshore/shoreline profile.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image6.jpeg){width="5.8180555555555555in"                   |
| height="2.5006944444444446in"}                                        |
|                                                                       |
| Source: USACE                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| []{#__RefHeading___Toc121040710 .anchor}Figure 5. Profile tool result |
| using dense SHOALS survey data.                                       |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

### Volume-Compute Tool

The volume-compute tool allows computation of sediment volumes between
selected datasets. The volumes are computed based on surfaces and grids
created using the RSM GIS with data from ingested bathymetric and
topographic datasets. The user can compute volumes by drawing polygons
over desired areas. Once a polygon is drawn, an elevation difference is
reckoned for each point in the surface grid. By integrating these
elevation differences over the area of interest, the change in sand or
sediment volume is found. Figure 6 shows the volume-compute tool screen.
The light gray areas in the polygonal area shown at the lower center of
the display represent areas of sediment erosion (or loss). The darker
gray and black tones represent areas of sediment accumulation.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image7.jpeg){width="5.7875in" height="3.247916666666667in"} |
|                                                                       |
| Source: USACE                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| []{#__RefHeading___Toc121040711 .anchor}Figure 6. Volume-compute tool |
| screen.                                                               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

### GIS Management Assistance Tools

Other tools developed for GIS assistance are a search, a coordinate
conversion, a printing, and a theme tool. The theme tool provides for
grouping of multiple data layers that can be added to a view for user
inspection. The coordinate conversion tool provides the capability of
converting between UTM and geographic coordinates. The search tool
allows a search for selected characteristics within a given theme. The
print tools provide flexibility in providing hardcopy for a system user.

## RSM Numerical Models

The RSM GIS provides crucial information concerning sediment transport
pathways, shoreline change, and sediment volume shifts. These data are
required for calibration of numerical models used to simulate and
quantify littoral sediment changes. Such models are an important part of
a best management practice methodology so that decisions made by
resource managers are both cost effective and environmentally sound. An
aforementioned RSM GIS tool, SBAS, employs selected numerical models to
produce a sediment budget analysis (Rosati and Kraus, 2001).

Numerical models that are often used with the RSM GIS are the Steady
Wave (STWAVE), the Generalized Model for Simulating Shoreline Change
(GENESIS), the Advanced Circulation Multidimensional Hydrodynamic Model
(ADCIRC), and a Reservoir model. STWAVE (Smith et al., 1999) is a
steady-state spectral wave model that depicts changes in wave
parameters, such as wave height, period, direction, and spectral shape
from offshore to nearshore regions. The model simulates wave
transformations, such as breaking, refraction and shoaling, diffraction,
wave-current interaction, and wave growth due to wind fields. The
nearshore STWAVE output is used to estimate sediment transport. When
STWAVE is used with the GENESIS model, shoreline changes can be
assessed.

GENESIS (Gravens et al., 1991) is a one-contour-line beach change model.
GENESIS computes longshore sand transport and the change in modeled
coast shape at selected time intervals over a given simulation period.
The model takes into consideration the effects of coastal structures and
platform changes for a targeted beach.

ADCIRC (Luettich et al., 1994) is a two-dimensional, depth-integrated,
finite-element hydrodynamic model that can operate over a wide range of
grid element sizes. Fine resolution can be chosen to give more accurate
flow calculations for waterway channels and for flow around coastal
structures. ADCIRC uses wetting and drying subroutines that simulate
inundation and subaerial exposure of a flood shoal.

A Reservoir model (Kraus, 2000) calculates sand volume and
sand-bypassing rates at ebb tidal shoals. Analytical solutions for
volume changes and bypassing rates are a function of the ratio of input
longshore sand transport rates plus the equilibrium volume of the
overall features of the ebb shoal, the bypassing bar, and the attachment
bar. The model provides explicit expressions for sand bypassing time
delays that are associated with creation and growth of inlet features.

Once the model runs are complete, their output can be visualized within
the RSM GIS. This visualization provides closure and allows decision
makers to readily estimate how sediment transport can affect their local
or regional environment(s).

# Potential NASA Inputs to RSM Decision Support

A primary NASA data contribution would be to update and augment the
imagery used in the RSM GIS. The USACE currently uses archived aerial
photos. These photos arrive in various formats and must be converted to
a common format (UTM NAD83). The aerial photos are used for feature
identification, feature geometry and metrics, feature aspect, feature
history (followed through archived data), geomorphic associations,
sediment tracking, vegetation in target areas, and finding the
shoreline. Table 1 provides a list of requirements (Davis et al., 2002)
for sundry coastal ocean applications and names some suitable current
NASA sensors for these applications. As seen in Table 1, important
current spaceborne sensors include Landsat 7 Thematic Mapper (TM), the
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS), the Advanced
Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), and the
Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS).

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc121040702 .anchor}Table 1. Relevant sensor
requirements for coastal ocean applications.

  ----------------- ------------ -------- ------------ ---------------------
  Applications      Spatial      Swath    Temporal     Some Suitable NASA
                    Resolution   Width    Resolution   Sensors for
                    (m)          (km)                  Application

  Bathymetry;       1-30         1-100    Weeks to     Landsat TM, ASTER,
  Bottom types                            months       NASA Airborne

  Tidal plumes;     20-1000      1-10     Hours        Geostationary
  jets; frontal                                        Sensors; NASA
  regions                                              Airborne

  Coastal           1-30         1-20     Weeks to     Landsat TM, ASTER,
  Geomorphology                           months       NASA Airborne

  River plumes;     20-1000      1-100    Hours to     SeaWiFS; MODIS; NASA
  outfalls                                weeks        Airborne

  Tidal Marsh Areas 1-30         1-20     Weeks to     Landsat TM; ASTER;
                                          months       NASA Airborne

  Harmful Algal     100-1000     1-100    Days to      SeaWiFS; MODIS;
  Blooms; Coastal                         weeks        Geostationary
  water quality                                        Sensors; NASA
                                                       Airborne
  ----------------- ------------ -------- ------------ ---------------------

In Table 1, it is the bathymetry/bottom type mapping entries that are
most RSM DSS related. In coastal regions, bathymetry and bottom type
often exhibit short spatial/temporal correlation lengths. Thus, spatial
detail in imagery would be desirable. Due to their image spatial
resolution, Landsat 7 and/or ASTER are prime candidate sensors that
could provide image data for the RSM GIS. In dealing with imaging the
sea bottom in optically shallow waters, spatial resolution is a key
concern. ASTER, in particular, provides 15 m ground sample distance
(GSD) for three bands (not counting the backward-looking near-infrared
(NIR) band). The 15 m GSD could be useful for feature identification and
metrics. Landsat 7 TM data is 30 m GSD with 15 m panchromatic GSD (which
can be used to sharpen the multispectral data).

It is important to note that, not only spatial, but also that spectral
resolution is vital if adequate bathymetric and bottom type mapping is
to fully succeed. The spectral bands directly useful for coastal ocean
work are limited and range from 400 nm to something more than 600 nm.
The spectral band limitation is due to the non-linear filtering effects
seawater presents to incident solar light fields. Since the spectral
variation in bottom types can be muted somewhat in their spectral
reflection of incident radiation by the water column, it is important to
garner as much spectral information as possible to aid in delineating
ocean bottom habitats.

Coastal near-shore land cover/land use information could be extracted
from either Landsat TM or ASTER data and provide a valuable data layer
in the RSM GIS. Moreover, sea bottom mapping (benthic classification)
could be pursued where and when (some seasonality may be involved)
coastal waters are optically shallow (Holderied et al., 2002).
Determination of bottom type is an extremely valuable information layer
for the RSM GIS. Further, exploitation of historical satellite imagery
for this kind of benthic mapping could provide 'movie loops' on how
sediments have shifted with time -- and how benthic habitats may have
been affected by such shifts. This can be important for the USACE, since
environmental impact queries arise when dredging activities are planned
or executed.

Finding the MHW-line (shoreline) is an important activity for the USACE.
Using ASTER, this may be somewhat challenging because the GSD is a bit
coarse for this application. However, ASTER NIR bands could
differentiate water from the land and, if the MHW has occurred recently,
the moistened sand area would be differentiated from the drier sand
areas. This differentiation would allow points to be selected for MHW
and a shoreline to be thereby interpolated.

The requirements of Table 1 represent desired criteria for coastal ocean
data collection by remote sensors. It is still possible that coarser
spatial imagery could be of value, since there exists both SeaWiFS and
MODIS image data that is both historically and currently available for
areas of interest to the USACE. This data would be at more a regional
than local scale and could form a portion of the bottom type database
for the RSM GIS.

A secondary NASA contribution area could be sediment transport events
via ocean currents. The in-water sediment could be mapped by using the
MODIS sensor onboard both the Aqua and Terra platforms. Because the two
platforms follow one another in orbit, it would be possible to map
advances in sediment fronts, using sediments as tracers, as they move
from source to deposition areas. This strategy can provide in-water
transport rates that can be compared to rates of deposition at aggraded
areas. Also, dispersal patterns could be discerned as the sand is
transported, and the results of numerical models could be crosschecked
using this information.

The National Polar-orbiting Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and
the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) represent two future NASA-related
orbital sensors similar to MODIS that could be potentially valuable.
Some future editions of the Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite Program (GOES) satellites -- such as GOES-R/HES-CW -- due to
launch in 2012 -- can be potentially useful for RSM applications as
well.

The NPP will provide a test platform for three of the key sensors that
will be onboard the NPOESS. The NPP is scheduled for launch in 2006,
while the NPOESS will launch three years later. In particular, the
Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard both the NPP
and the NPOESS provides a follow-on sensor with MODIS-like capability.
The VIIRS instrument will have a spatial resolution of 400 m (at nadir
\-- with increasing GSD with off-nadir viewing). Table 1 suggests that
this GSD would be adequate for certain coastal ocean applications but
would be insufficient for site-specific bathymetry and sea bottom
mapping.

The GOES-R/HES-CW platform will carry two sensors of note: 1) the
Advanced Baseline Imager and 2) the Hyperspectral Environmental Suite
(HES) -- which has the capability to image coastal waters (CW) at a high
temporal repeat rate. However, again, the downside of this future
rendition of the GOES satellites is the relatively coarse spatial
resolution. The planned spatial resolution, or GSD, is touted to be in
the range 150 m to 300 m (Local -- at the equator). This GSD is better
than that of VIIRS -- but is still rather coarse, especially for near
shore coastal applications. However, given the increased number of
spectral bands present and available to assist in ferreting out bottom
types, this data could be of value to the RSM DSS. Table 2 provides a
comparison of MODIS, VIIRS, and GOES - HES-CW wave bands relevant for
coastal water work.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc121040703 .anchor}Table 2. Spectral band coverage
for MODIS, VIIRS, and GOES-R HES-CW sensors.

  ----------- ------------------- ------------------- --------------------
  Relative    MODIS               VIIRS               GOES-HES-CW
  Band Number                                         

  1           405 - 420           400-430             400-432

  2           438 - 448           427-463             423-463

  3           483 - 493           468-508             457-497

  4           526 - 536           535-575             470-510

  5           546 - 556           652-692             490-530

  6           662 - 672                               510-550

  7           673 - 683                               530-570

  8                                                   625-665

  9                                                   657-677
  ----------- ------------------- ------------------- --------------------

NASA-associated numerical oceanographic models might have some value,
but this theory would have to be assessed in concert with the USACE
in-house experts in this field. In particular, the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) General Circulation Model (MITgcm) is a
candidate coastal circulation model that could be of some value to the
RSM DSS (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004). Because fluid
media exhibit similar general behavior, the model kernel can be used to
reckon circulation in both the ocean and atmosphere. The MITgcm offers a
novel approach to simulate non-hydrostatic fluid phenomenon over a
variety of scales, which allows a simultaneous study of both local,
regional, and, if needed, global circulation processes -- including
smaller-scale mixing processes. MITgcm uses a finite volume method to
faithfully represent the water-land interface boundaries, which is
important for coastal ocean studies. Moreover, the model has a built-in
adjoint methodology that allows ready data assimilation, sensitivity
studies, and application to state estimation problems. The model can be
run on a variety of platforms, from the high-end desktop PCs to
supercomputing information technology environments.

WAVEWATCH III, a potentially useful model for RSM, is a third-generation
wave model developed at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental
Prediction. The original WAVEWATCH was developed at Delft University of
Technology, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center created WAVEWATCH II
from the original model. WAVEWATCH III differs from its predecessors on
some important points: governing equations, model structures, numerical
methods, and physical parameterizations. The model is a set of
operational global and regional models that predict wave heights using
wind conditions as predicted by weather models and that solve the
spectral action-density balance equation for wave number-direction
spectra. Model outputs are gridded fields of significant wave height
(highest 1/3 of the wave heights), wave directions/wave periods
associated with these wave heights, and spectral information that
describes the wave energy at the different wavelengths. Wave energy
spectra are important for sediment carrying capacity analysis.

# Conclusions

The RSM GIS DSS provides several tools to graphically represent relevant
geo-spatial data and aids in the execution of engineering assessments.
In doing so, the DSS uses meteorological, hydrodynamic, bathymetric,
topographic, image, and dredge data as input. The GIS system's data
visualization capabilities allow end users to assess sediment transport
trajectories when tracked from source to deposition areas. RSM GIS
computations can provide reliable metrics that quantify the
position/change in shorelines and the attendant transported sediment
volumes.

These GIS metric data are used, in turn, to calibrate salient numerical
models. Numerical modeling is initiated for an area by using the
available RSM GIS data on waves, shoreline change, dredging, sediment
type and volume, and circulation patterns. Once complete, a preliminary
sediment budget can be computed using the SBAS tool. The resulting RSB
can be used to determine target areas where more field data may be
required.

Model simulation outputs displayed in the RSM GIS system provide ready
visualization of projected sediment movements. End users use this DSS in
developing regional sediment best management practice decisions.

Relevant information on NASA data and models are summarized in Table 3
and Table 4. Current and future sensors that could provide useful
bathymetric/bottom type mapping related imagery to the RSM DSS are
constrained by spatial and spectral resolution specifications (see Table
1 and Table 2 and relevant discussion). Current sensors with potential
for RSM use include Landsat 7 TM and ASTER. Future sensors such as VIIRS
and GOES-R/HES-CW also have potential for regional applications.
However, spatial resolution of these two sensor systems is rather coarse
for the relevant application, especially when site-specific information
is needed. Nonetheless, the spectral information provided by
GOES-R/HES-CW would provide welcome spectral detail that would help to
distinguish bottom types over a regional area of interest.

+--------+-------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| [      |             |               |                              |
| ]{#__R |             |               |                              |
| efHead |             |               |                              |
| ing___ |             |               |                              |
| Toc121 |             |               |                              |
| 040704 |             |               |                              |
| .      |             |               |                              |
| anchor |             |               |                              |
| }Table |             |               |                              |
| 3. RSM |             |               |                              |
| needs  |             |               |                              |
| and    |             |               |                              |
| NASA   |             |               |                              |
| data   |             |               |                              |
| input  |             |               |                              |
| match  |             |               |                              |
| --     |             |               |                              |
| c      |             |               |                              |
| urrent |             |               |                              |
| and    |             |               |                              |
| some   |             |               |                              |
| future |             |               |                              |
| se     |             |               |                              |
| nsors. |             |               |                              |
+--------+-------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Par    | RSM GIS     | NASA          | Comments on Potential Use    |
| ameter | DSS\        | Capability    |                              |
|        | Needs       |               |                              |
+--------+-------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| Su     | S: under    | **MODIS       | Landsat and ASTER            |
| rface\ | evaluation  | product**     | reflectance data have        |
| Reflec |             |               | potential for coastal        |
| tance\ | T: daily    | S: 250 & 500  | feature extraction and MHW   |
| (Level |             | m             | line determination.          |
| 1B)    | A:          |               |                              |
|        | uncertain   | T: 2 days     | Sequential MODIS imagery     |
|        |             |               | from Terra and Aqua          |
|        |             | A: uncertain  | platforms has potential for  |
|        |             |               | monitoring regional          |
|        |             | **ASTER       | dispersal and in-water rate  |
|        |             | product**     | of transport of sediment.    |
|        |             |               |                              |
|        |             | S: 15 m,      | NPP/NPOESS are follow-ons to |
|        |             | VIS/NIR       | Terra/MODIS and Aqua/MODIS   |
|        |             |               | missions that may provide    |
|        |             | S: 30 m,      | some support to RSM.         |
|        |             | NIR/SWIR      |                              |
|        |             |               | GOES-R/HES-CW has some       |
|        |             | T: on request | potential to support RSM at  |
|        |             | (7 days)      | regional scales.             |
|        |             |               |                              |
|        |             | A: uncertain  |                              |
|        |             |               |                              |
|        |             | **Landsat     |                              |
|        |             | product**     |                              |
|        |             |               |                              |
|        |             | S: 15 & 30 m  |                              |
|        |             |               |                              |
|        |             | T: 1--3 weeks |                              |
|        |             |               |                              |
|        |             | A: uncertain  |                              |
+--------+-------------+---------------+------------------------------+
| S =    |             |               |                              |
| S      |             |               |                              |
| patial |             |               |                              |
|        |             |               |                              |
| T =    |             |               |                              |
| Te     |             |               |                              |
| mporal |             |               |                              |
|        |             |               |                              |
| A =    |             |               |                              |
| Ac     |             |               |                              |
| curacy |             |               |                              |
+--------+-------------+---------------+------------------------------+

  --------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------
  []{#__RefHeading___Toc121040705                                                 
  .anchor}Table 4. RSM GIS DSS and                                                
  potentially useful NASA numerical                                               
  models.                                                                         

  Model Type and Level of NASA      RSM GIS DSS\     Key Model Inputs             RSM GIS DSS Relevant
  Support                           Needs                                         Model Output

  1\. WAVEWATCH III; NASA GSFC      Hydrodynamic and Atmospheric forcing data     Wavenumber-direction
  contribution to model development meteorological   (from numerical weather      spectra (nowcast,
                                    data             prediction models; e.g.,     forecast)
                                                     wind, pressure, air temp,    
                                                     evaporation/precipitation)   

  2\. MIT General Circulation Model Sediment         Atmospheric forcing data;    Waves, winds, currents
  (MITgcm) (NASA-funded University  movement and     also uses remote sensing sea 
  research)                         dispersal due to surface temperature, wind,   
                                    water transport  and sea surface height       
                                                     anomaly                      
  --------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------

The USACE Regional Sediment Management DSS still appears to be at a
relatively immature stage. However, we suggest that NASA pursue
interaction with the USACE regarding the integration of NASA remote
sensing imagery into the RSM DSS. NASA data could replace or complement
some archives and could add new, significant data layers to the RSM
tool.

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