Coastal Informatics: Web Atlas Design and Implementation
Coastal Informatics: Web Atlas Design and Implementation
Edited by Dawn J. Wright (Oregon State University, USA), Edward ("Ned") Dwyer and Valerie Cummins (Coastal & Marine Resources Centre, Ireland)
To be published by IGI-Global, scheduled for release in 2010.
Rationale
In recent years, significant momentum has occurred in the development of Internet resources for decision makers, scientists and the general public who are interested in the coast. A key aspect of this trend has been the development of the coastal web atlas (CWA), based on a web-enabled geographic information systems (GIS). A CWA is defined as 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.
CWAs deal with a variety of thematic priorities (e.g., oil spills or recreational uses) and can be tailored to address the needs of a particular user group (e.g., coastal managers or education). There are many benefits which CWAs can provide, including:
- A portal to coastal data and information from diverse sources;
- Up-to-date geospatial data which are frequently changing;
- A widely accessible coastal resource to a broad audience;
- A comprehensive and searchable data catalogue;
- Improved efficiency in finding data, but also a wide range of ancillary information;
- An instrument for marine spatial planning;
- Interactive tools and resources which empower users to find their own answers;
- An educational resource which raises people’s consciousness about coastal topics.
Objective
The purpose of the book is to present the latest developments in the new field of coastal web atlases and to share best practices and lessons learned, which will in turn help readers to determine future needs in mapping and informatics for the coastal practitioner community and improve spatial thinking in the coastal context. This handbook will provide a complete guide to CWA development and implementation including established principles and recommendations for atlas design, data requirements, necessary software technology and institutional capacity, as well as best practices for achieving interoperability between CWAs (where concepts, terminology, and even abbreviations that are shared between two or more atlases are understood by all to mean the same thing).
Target Audience
The prime audience for the handbook will be coastal resource managers and consultants, coastal scientists, coastal technologists (e.g., information technologists, GIS specialists, software developers), government researchers, and graduate students. The handbook should be especially valuable to coastal resource managers who need to tackle such topic-based issues (explaining environmental concepts to the public and reaching them with current information has always been a difficult task). It may also be suitable for intermediate, advanced courses in coastal/marine GIS or coastal zone management (i.e., courses toward a related B.Sc., M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree, in the classroom, but also potentially for distance education as well).
Book Production Timeline
July 3, 2009 - Full chapter deadline (along with names of 2 suggested reviewers per chapter to add to our own list reviewers)
August 14, 2009: Deadline for reviewers to return chapters
August 17, 2009: Review results sent to authors
September 20, 2009: Progress report to publisher
September 15, 2009: Revised chapters due from authors
September 30, 2009: Notify authors of final acceptance (i.e., no further changes needed)
October 24, 2009: Receive final accepted chapters, text and figures, fully formatted in IGI style
November 13, 2009: Final submission of entire book manuscript to publisher
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I - Principles
Chapter 1 – Introduction: Coastal Web Atlas Defined (Dawn, Val)
Chapter 2 – Coastal Web Atlas Features (coordinated by Liz) [lead editor Ned]
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Map Area
2.3. Geographic Data
2.4. Map Legend/Layer List
2.5. Atlas Tools
2.6. Attribute Tables
2.8. Information/Extras
2.9. Technology
2.10. Conclusion
Chapter 3 – Coastal Web Atlas Implementation (coordinated by Tanya) [lead editor Dawn]
3.1. Getting Started
3.2. Implementation
3.2.1. Atlas Interface
3.2.2. Map Area
3.2.3. Geographic Data Content and Display
3.2.4. Map Legend/Layer List
3.2.5. Atlas Tools, Decision-support Tools
3.2.6. Attribute Tables
3.2.7. Information/Extras
3.2.8. Content Management
3.2.9. Software and Hardware Technology
3.2.10. Interfacing with Web Services and Viewers (e.g., OGC services, Google Earth/Maps, ArcGIS Explorer/JavaScript API, MS Virtual Earth, etc.)
3.2.11. User Feedback
3.2.12. Curriculum Development from Atlases
3.2.13. Support and Future Development
Chapter 4 – Coastal Web Atlas Interoperability (coordinated by Yassine) [lead editor Dawn]
4.1. Interoperability – Why it Matters
4.2. Standards
4.3. Open Geospatial Consortium Services (e.g., WMS, WFS, WCS, CSW)
4.4. Tools for Interoperability
4.5. Introduction to Controlled Vocabularies and Ontologies
4.6. Ontology Components and Practices
4.7. Advanced Ontology Concepts
4.8. Linking Your CWA to Regional Partners
4.9. Approaches from Marine Metadata Interoperability (MMI), SeaDataNet, and the International Coastal Atlas Network (ICAN)
Part II - Coastal Web Atlas Case Studies Around the World
Chapter 5 - Overview of Atlases (coordinated by Dawn) [lead editor Ned]
5.1. Introduction and overview of US atlases
5.2. Overview of European Union (EU) atlases
5.3. Overview of Africa
5.4. Overview of efforts around the world
Chapter 6 - Oregon, USA (Tanya) [lead editor Dawn]
Chapter 7 – Ireland (Ned, Kathrin, Liz) [lead editor Dawn]
Chapter 8 – Maryland and Virginia, USA (Marcia) [lead editor Dawn]
Chapter 9 – Wisconsin, USA (David H.) [lead editor Dawn]
Chapter 10 – Belgium (Kathy B., Hannelore) [lead editor Ned]
Chapter 11 – Africa (Lucy) [lead editor Ned]
Chapter 12 – Caribbean (Sean) [lead editor Dawn]
Chapter 13 – UK (Roger, David G.) [lead editor Ned]
Chapter 14 – Spain (Alejandro Iglesias-Campos et al.) [lead editor Ned]
Part III - Coastal Web Atlas Management and Governance Issues
Chapter 15 – The International Coastal Atlas Network (Dawn, Val) [lead editor Ned]
Chapter 16 - Coastal Atlases in the Context of SDI (coordinated by Dawn) [lead editor Ned]
16. 1. Federated Coastal Atlas of the USA
16. 2. European Atlas of the Seas
16. 3. Other Initiatives
Chapter 17 - Creating a Usable Atlas (coordinated by Tim) [lead editor Dawn]
17.1. Atlas Audience
17.1.1. User Capabilities
17.1.2. User Needs
17.1.3. User Expectations
17.2. Web Interface Pitfalls
Chapter 18 - Improving a Growing Atlas (coordinated by Tanya) [lead editor Dawn]
18.1 Server Logs
18.2 User Surveys
18.3. Learning from Atlas Use Patterns
18.4. Change Over Time
Chapter 19 - Supporting a Successful Atlas (coordinated by Roger) [lead editor Ned]
19.1. – Partnerships / Institutional Support
19.2. – Intellectual Property Rights
19.3. – Atlas Publicity
19.4. – Atlas Funding
19.5. – Regional Governance and Partnerships (e.g., SeaDataNet, IODE, MMI, ICAN)
Chapter 20 – Further Reading (e-book version only)
