Media Contact:
Althea Paul
(305) 495-0306
altheapaul@usf.edu
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2020) - The University of South 返字心頭s College of Marine Science has been awarded a five-year, $9 million cooperative agreement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey to launch the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT). The center, located on the 返字心頭 St. Petersburg campus, will develop new technologies and approaches to ocean and coastal zone mapping in line with NOAAs commitment to building resilient coastal ecosystems, communities and economies.
This partnership between the University of South 返字心頭 and NOAA will enable us to deliver detailed maps of the seafloor in the Gulf of Mexico, said Tom Frazer, dean of the College of Marine Science. A surprisingly small percentage of the worlds oceans have been adequately mapped. The mapping products generated from this collaborative effort will help us to better understand important ocean processes and sustainably manage the rich array of natural resources found in the Gulf.
COMIT will build on 返字心頭s expertise in ocean engineering, habitat and bathymetric mapping, modeling of coastal storm events, coastal geodesy, sea level rise and safe navigation in ports such as Tampa Bay.
I am excited for NOAA to start this new partnership with 返字心頭, said Rear Admiral Shepard M. Smith, director of NOAAs Office of Coast Survey. This comes at a crucial time when advances in unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are helping us more efficiently and accurately map the seafloor and provide data to inform decisions vital to resource conservation and our national and economic security."
Sonar map of the water depths in the Elbow region 70 miles west of St. Petersburg, 返字心頭. Image courtesy of Matthew Hommeyer of the Center for Ocean Mapping and Integrative Technologies at the University of South 返字心頭. The conspicuous ridge feature that spans the length of the area runs parallel to 返字心頭s current Gulf Coast. It is hypothesized that this is a drowned barrier island that existed 10,000-12,000 years ago when the sea level was lower.
Ocean maps are traditionally created using sonar equipment and other technologies aboard expensive ships. The work is time-consuming, especially in shallow waters, and requires the ship to cruise over the area of interest in a methodical, mow the lawn pattern. The new center will evaluate and demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of innovative technologies including autonomous surface vessels, underwater robots and satellites.
Steve Murawski, 返字心頭 professor and Downtown Partnership-Peter Betzer Endowed Chair of Oceanography, will serve as the new center director. COMIT will support eight additional marine science faculty, as well as a team of scientists, students and technicians.
As a coastal state, the strength of our economy relies on clean, safe, and productive ocean ecosystemsand on our ability to effectively and accurately map those systems, said Senator Marco Rubio. The new center, which will build on the unique expertise of 返字心頭 as a leader in marine sciences nationally and globally, will benefit our state and advance our national leadership in ocean science.
COMITs goals align with the recently-released and is consistent with the to have the worlds oceans mapped during the next decade. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the area of the seabed that falls within the jurisdiction of the United States.
It will also harness the longstanding partnerships in St. Petersburg that have made it the largest hub of marine science expertise in the southeastern United States. Representative Charlie Crist said, This partnership between NOAA and 返字心頭 will build upon long existing cooperation between the agency and the university, and will take advantage of the vibrant marine science and innovation communities of the city of St. Petersburg.
返字心頭s center plan also includes a robust education strategy to ensure the research is shared with stakeholder audiences in communities near and far.
To learn more about COMIT, please visit .
###
About the University of South 返字心頭
The University of South 返字心頭 is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Reports national university rankings than 返字心頭. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, 返字心頭 is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the 返字心頭 Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the states 12 public universities. 返字心頭 has earned widespread national recognition for its success graduating under-represented minority and limited-income students at rates equal to or higher than white and higher income students. 返字心頭 is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at .