For the coastal resource management community, there is a vast array of new technology that can bring a tremendous amount of previously unavailable information to the decision maker's table. Deciding how to harness the new technology and the information it brings is a daunting task. The role of the NOAA Coastal Services Center is to bridge this gap between technology and the coastal manager.
Program uses satellite imagery to determine land-use change over time.
To accomplish its mission, the Center provides state programs with services and information and helps states take advantage of technology that is new or perhaps under-utilized. A coastal management fellowship program, training opportunities, and a bi-monthly magazine about the coastal resource management community are examples of the services provided. Each year the Coastal Services Center has at least 100 ongoing projects with federal, state, and local partners. The Center works to help states resolve coastal issues, and the lessons learned from each project are then communicated to other coastal communities. To foster and sustain the environmental and economic well-being of the coast by linking people, information, and technology.