The Tampa Bay Integrated Science Study is an effort 

by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that combines the 

expertise of federal, state and local partners to address some 

of the most pressing ecological problems of the Tampa Bay 

estuary. This project serves as a template for the application 

of integrated research projects in other estuaries in the Gulf 

of Mexico. Efficient information and data distribution for the 

Tampa Bay Study has required the development of a Data 

Information Management System (DIMS). This information 

system is being used as an outreach management tool, providing information to scientists, decision makers and the public 

on the coastal resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

Overview

Gulf of Mexico Integrated Science - Tampa Bay Study

Data Information Management System (DIMS)

Components

Web Site

Homepages: Gulf of Mexico Integrated Science Web site, Tampa 

Bay Study, Suwanne River Basin and Estuary Initiative, Mobile 

Bay Digital Library, Atchafalaya & Mississippi River Deltas and 

Galveston Bay Wetlands Inventory Project.

The data information management system consists of 

a Web site, which contains a wide range of information 

and also houses the projectʼs interactive mapping system 

and its digital library. By making use of an Internet-based 

system, wide-scale distribution of information is possible. 

Data sets, reports, maps and presentations are available for 

downloading. Using these tools, scientists can eliminate 

repetition of work and time-consuming outside searches, 

while providing uniform data among partners.

The Gulf of Mexico Integrated Science Web site 

(http://gulfsci.usgs.gov) plays a key role in providing 

information to managers, scientists and the general public 

about the progress of the Tampa Bay Study. The site provides details on the Tampa Bay Integrated Science Study, 

along with information on research under way in other 

coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico. The Tampa Bay 

portion of the Web site contains reports, posters, presentations by scientists involved in the study, water-chemistry 

maps, information about outreach activities, and details 

about meetings and conferences. The site is also the backbone of the data information management system, serving 

as the location for the Tampa Bay Interactive Mapping 

System (IMS) and the Tampa Bay Digital Library.

http://gulfsci.usgs.gov

The three components of the DIMS provide:

• A Web-based multimedia mechanism to provide simplified data and information to decision makers and the 

general public;

• A geographic information system and modeling component to manage and manipulate spatial data, including an 

interactive mapping system;

• A database to manage, manipulate, and catalog nonspatial data;

• A Web-enabled query system for display and delivery of 

USGS integrated science program efforts and information 

on research study sites.

Open-File Report 2004-1450

December 2004

U. S. Department of the Interior

U. S. Geological Survey
For more information, please contact:

Jimmy Johnston, Task Leader 

 USGS/BRD/National Wetlands Research Center

 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506

 Email: jimmy_johnston@usgs.gov

Kimberly Yates, Project Chief

 U.S. Geological Survey 

 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

 Email: kyates@usgs.gov

Contributors:

Pete Bourgeois, USGS/BRD/NWRC

Sumani Chimmula, JCWS/NWRC/USGS

Christopher Cretini, JCWS/NWRC/USGS

Holly Greening, TBEP

Renee Koenig, ETI/USGS

Kevin Madley, FWRI

Henry Norris, FWRI

Helena Schaefer, USGS/BRD/NWRC

Kathryn Smith, USGS/BRD/NWRC

Dave Tomasko, SWFWMD

Scott Wilson, USGS/BRD/NWRC

Goals

Digital Library Interactive Mapping System

BRD/Biologic Resources Discipline • ETI/ETI Professionals, Inc. • FWRI/Fish and Wildlife Research Institute • GD/Geologic Division • JCWS/Johnson Controls World Services, Inc. 

NWRC/National Wetlands Research Center • SWFMD/Southwest Florida Water Management District • TBEP/Tampa Bay Estuary Program • USGS/U.S. Geological Survey

Tampa Bay Interactive Mapping System (IMS) portal page.

Tampa Bay Digital Library search pages and results page.

The key goal of the DIMS is to provide tools and 

resources to assist scientists and managers who work 

directly in Tampa Bay. This Web site provides the foundation for access to knowledge and information from all 

USGS Gulf of Mexico estuary programs and other efforts 

pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico and its coastal zone. The 

information system will expand and evolve as information 

from other Gulf of Mexico projects is compiled.

The Tampa Bay Digital Library was developed by the 

USGS National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) as a 

Web-based clearinghouse for scientific data related to the 

assessment and management of Tampa Bay. When monitoring the health of the bay, natural resource managers 

make use of a variety of data, such as historical depictions 

of the estuary, habitat analysis, shoreline change, and 

biological processes. The digital library centralizes this 

information on the project Web site for scientists, natural resource managers, and the public. Users can access 

comprehensive geological, ecological, and water-quality 

data that are required to make decisions about the future 

health of the estuary. Information is indexed by keyword 

and data type, allowing visitors to locate resource materials quickly. The digital library contains data, reports, and 

images tracing the history of Tampa Bay. The following 

types of information can be viewed and downloaded:

The Tampa Bay Interactive Mapping System (IMS) is 

a Web-based geographic information system (GIS) used 

to store, analyze, and display spatial data pertaining to 

Tampa Bay. Spatial data contain geographic information 

that can be mapped. Because GIS on the Internet provides 

a much more dynamic tool than a static map display, Web 

users can navigate around maps, overlay different data, 

query the database, and print maps. When users access 

the IMS, they will see a map that provides an overview 

of the project area. Users can choose from the four study 

sites and zoom in to see details on segments of the study, 

such as habitats and land-use patterns. Data from different aspects of the integrated science study can be layered 

on top of each other so users can create their own maps. 

In addition, they can download information and do their 

own analysis. 

• documents

• maps

• spatial data

• tabular data

• Web resources

• presentations

• photographs

• posters

• metadata

• aerial photographs 

• animations