1. Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network
Dr. Patrick R. Michaud
June 11, 2002

2. Conrad Blucher Institute/ Texas A&M Univ-Corpus Christi
Located in Corpus Christi, Texas
Focused on regional and environmental issues, especially for the Gulf of Mexico
Blucher Institute focuses on measuring the earth and its processes
First I wish to give some background about Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Conrad Blucher Institute.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is located in Corpus Christi Texas, approximately where the star is located on this map. We are directly on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. We have approximately 7,400 students and we are the fastest growing University in Texas.
The University places a lot of emphasis on regional issues, especially those dealing with the Gulf of Mexico. The University has several research institutes that study the Gulf of Mexico, including the Conrad Blucher Institute (which houses the work I am describing here), the Center for Coastal Studies, and recently a new “Harte Research Institute” which was begun with a $46 million private endowment to the University.
The Conrad Blucher Institute has traditionally focused on those issues dealing with surveying; that is, measuring the earth.

3. TCOON Overview Started 1988 Over 50 stations Primary Sponsors
General Land Office
Water Devel. Board
US Corps of Eng
Nat'l Ocean Service
Gulf of
Mexico

4. TCOON Overview Measurements Follows NOAA/NOS standards
Precise Water Levels
Wind
Temperature
Barometric Pressure
Follows NOAA/NOS standards
Real-time, online database

5. Typical TCOON Station Wind anemometer Radio Antenna
Satellite Transmitter
Solar Panels
Data Collector
Water Level Sensor
Water Quality Sensor
Current Meter
These are the typical sensors associated with a TCOON station.

6. Once the data are collected at the Blucher Institute, they are available via our web site. This slide shows an example of one of our “overview” pages describing the current conditions at a nearby platform. The top of the page identifies the platform (“Naval Air Station”), its location and other parameters. The latest observations are displayed next in both metric and English units. For many stations we are able to display the information in “real-time” (not older than 15 minutes).

7. Because of the importance of the data for boundary determination and navigation, we have an extensive quality control system in place. Every morning, an analyst reviews all of the data collected by all stations. This slide shows what an analyst would be looking at. Since 1996, all TCOON data processing has taken place via the World Wide Web; that is, not only do we publish data via the web, but we also use the web as the primary internal interface for updating and maintaining the network itself. Thus, the analyst visits a web page showing recently collected data.
In this slide, the top graph represents the water elevations, the next graph displays wave activity, and the bottom graph shows air and water temperatures.

8. Moving further down the web page, you can see the interface the analyst uses to monitor the system. If any problems are observed in the operation of the station, the analyst enters a note using the form at the bottom of the web page. When all of the stations have been reviewed, the outstanding notes are then organized and sent via electronic mail to the entire staff. These notes then form the basis for repair and maintenance operations for the next few days.

9. This is another slide showing the online-form of interaction used for maintenance of the TCOON network—all site visits and data processing are performed via the web. This slide shows the repair trips that have been made to the station; clicking on any of the links will display the complete details of the repair including parts used, serial numbers, calibrations performed, and so on.

10. Data Collection Paths
Data are transmitted from the stations to the Conrad Blucher Institute in a variety of paths, including satellite transmissions,
packet radio, and telephone connections.

11. Data Management Automated Acquisition, Archive, Processing, Retrieval
10-year Historical Database
Most processing takes place via Internet
Infrastructure for other observation systems

12. Data Management Design Principles
Preserve source data
Annotate instead of modify
Automate as much as possible
Maintain a standard interchange format
Avoid complex or proprietary components
Emphasize long-term reliability over short-term costs
These are the data management design principles that have been used to develop our data management and communications systems.

13. Uses of TCOON Data Tidal Datums Littoral Boundaries Oil-Spill Response
Navigation
Storm Preparation/ Response
Research

14. Tidal Datums Used for Coastal property boundaries Nautical charts
Bridge and engineering structures

15. Tidal Datum Schematic

16. Tidal Datum Schematic

17. Tidal Datum Schematic

18. Other Real-Time Systems
Real-time Navigation
Port of Corpus Christi
Port Freeport
NOAA PORTS
Water-Quality
Nueces Bay Salinity
Oso Creek Dissolved Oxygen
Offshore Weather

19. New Data Collection Hardware
PC-104 based computer
Linux operating system
Solid-state Flash memory
10 serial ports, 16 A/D channels
Low power consumption
Rugged for harsh environments
Because of difficulties in finding flexible data collection systems, the Blucher Institute has been designing its own data collectors using commercially available components. We are now using PC-104 based computer components to provide the sensor control and data collection for our individual stations. PC-104 provides a good, stable platform for software development and long-term availability of components.

20. New Data Collection Hardware
Linux operating system
2.4.9 kernel
16MB RAM, 32MB HDD
486 or Pentium processor
Concurrent processes
GNU shell/tools
cron
bash
gcc
Because of difficulties in finding flexible data collection systems, the Blucher Institute has been designing its own data collectors using commercially available components. We are now using PC-104 based computer components to provide the sensor control and data collection for our individual stations. PC-104 provides a good, stable platform for software development and long-term availability of components.

21. Research Real-time Automated Data Processing Tidal Datum Processing
Web-based Visualization and Manipulation of Coastal Data
Neural-Network-based forecasts from real-time observations
Specialized sensor and data acquisition system development
Support for other research efforts

22. Neural Network Forecasting
Reliable short-term predictions of effects of storm events

23. Conclusions Long-term, data-rich observation network
Web-based infrastructure for automated collection and processing of marine data
Research in datum computation and coastal forecasting