The Potentials and Limitations of Coastal Web Atlases Valerie Cummins, Director Coastal Zone ‘07, Oregon

Background to the first workshop Access to geospatial data Background to the Marine Irish Digital Atlas (MIDA)

Background to the first workshop Access to geospatial data Background to the Marine Irish Digital Atlas (MIDA) Corresponding international atlas development projects Collaboration needed to add value to existing projects (initial phase focused on trans-Atlantic cooperation) Coastal Web Atlas definition: A collection of digital maps and datasets with supplementary tables, illustrations and information that systematically illustrate the coast, oftentimes with cartographic and decision support tools, all of which are accessible via the Internet.

Workshop 1 Participants CMRC, University College Cork Co-ordination Centre for ICZM, Belgium Environment & Heritage Service, Northern Ireland Maritime & Coastguard Agency, UK University Paul Cezanne, France Marine Institute, Ireland University of Ulster, Northern Ireland British Oceanographic Data Centre Strangford Lough Management Committee, Northern Ireland Department of Marine, Ireland Ulster Museum, Northern Ireland Geological Survey of Ireland European Environment Agency, Denmark Geosciences Department, Oregon State University, USA Virginia Institute of Marine Science, USA Scripps Institute if Oceanography, USA San Diego Supercomputer Centre, USA NOAA Coastal Services Centre, USA Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University Oregon Ocean-Coastal Management Programme, USA Memorial University Newfoundland, Canada

Aims of the first workshop To create and strengthen relationships between experts in the field in marine and coastal mapping in North America and Europe To identify state of the art approaches to coastal mapping and informatics

Magic UK Oregon Coastal Atlas, US De Kustas, Belgium North Coast Explorer, US MIDA, Ireland

Atlas Characteristics Atlas purpose Distinguishing features Target audience Atlas support (financial/institutional) Atlas design & useability Technology used Functionality/Tools available

Thematic areas covered Institutional Capacity, Technology, Data, Design Unique challenges + Common challenges

Key workshop 1 report recommendations Consult with the user community Support dissemination of knowledge and experience Provide input to policy development Devote resources to proper cataloguing – use data standards and specifications Seek to maintain & update systems Employ efficient, flexible and easy to use data management systems Implement ontologies to improve data discovery, sharing & integration Evaluate atlas impact Offer analysis tools Be innovative in approaches to funding Acknowledge the importance of ongoing promotion Build on lessons learned and implement best practice

Post workshop outcomes International coastal atlas network (ICAN) –Trans-Atlantic Workshops web resource –Workshop 1 report published –Response to the EU Commissions consultation on the Green paper on a Maritime Policy for Europe –Formal project collaboration (BIDI project and desktop study on data mining techniques) –Informal collaboration ( queries and support network) –Conference papers e.g. Coastal Zone 07; CoastGIS 07 –OSU workshop July 07 on semantic interoperability