U.S. agencies remapping parts of Sandy-damaged east coast

Three federal agencies in the United States have announced plans to remap parts of the east coast where Hurricane Sandy caused major damage and altered shorelines.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are using emergency supplemental funds from Congress to survey coastal waters and shorelines and gather data that will be used to update east coast maps and nautical charts.

The agencies will measure water depths, look for submerged debris and record altered shorelines in “high priority areas” from South Carolina to Maine, as part of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, according to an NOAA statement.

“The areas to be remapped will be based on their relative dangers to navigation, effects from the storm, and discussions with state and local officials as well as the maritime industry,” the statement notes.

Much of the data gathered will be stored at the NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center and will be open to local, state and federal agencies, academics and the general public.

The information can be applied to updating nautical charts, removing marine debris, replenishing beaches, making repairs, and planning for future storms and coastal resilience.

NOAA also said it plans to contract with commercial firms for additional hydrographic survey projects and high resolution topographic and bathymetric elevation data and imagery in the region.

The U.S. Geological Survey will collect very high-resolution elevation data to support scientific studies related to the hurricane recovery and rebuilding activities, watershed planning and resource management, the statement also notes.

“USGS will collect data in coastal and inland areas depending on their hurricane damages and the age and quality of existing data. The elevation data will become part of a new initiative, called the 3D Elevation Program, to systematically acquire improved, high-resolution elevation data across the United States.”

The Army Corps of Engineers and its Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise are covering particular project areas in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey. They will coordinate operations, research, and development in airborne lidar bathymetry and complementary technologies for USACE, NOAA, and the U.S. Navy.

Photo: In Sandy’s immediate aftermath, NOAA survey vessels responded to calls for assistance from storm-ravaged areas in New York, New Jersey, Delaware Bay, and Virginia. This navigation response team cleared a path to launch at Marcus Hook. (Credit: NOAA)