Virginia Coastal Program: 2006 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
93.04
Grantee:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Title:
Continuing Coastal GEMS Development and Maintenance
Project Description as Proposed:
The Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Environmental Studies has created an ‘alpha’ version of the Coastal Geospatial and Educational Mapping System, or Coastal GEMS, through FY03 Task 95.011. Coastal GEMS is a gateway, or starting point, for accessing more comprehensive coastal resource information which should be considered in planning efforts and in making management decisions. This gateway provides data and maps of the best remaining blue and green infrastructure in Virginia’s coastal zone from across state agencies and organizations, as well as information on the value and current management of those resources.
Coastal GEMS began a testing cycle, or feedback period, following the public launch in February 2007 to allow users to help identify problems with the current application’s usability, new functions that would improve its usefulness to the wider audience, and identify additional information (i.e. data gaps) needed to better manage our coastal resources. Comments received throughout Spring 2007 will be used to refine Coastal GEMS into its final form. Existing data, information, and tools will be transformed onto a new interface (ArcIMS 9.2). New and existing data will be streamlined to improve the speed and performance of the application. New analytical tools will be developed and tool functionality (such as the Results Table) will be improved to convey attribute information in a simpler and more understandable format.
Agreements from all agencies to continually provide the VA CZM Program with their best available data is also essential in ensuring informed decisions are made with regard to sensitive coastal resources. A model for data-sharing agreements will be developed, in which the CZM Program will refine to meet the needs of each contributing agency when developing MOUs between CZM/VCU and state and local partners.
Federal Funding:
$50,700.00
Project Contact:
Kelly Price - Kelly.Price@deq.virginia.gov, (804) 698-4260
Project Status:
6/1/2007 - 3/31/2008
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
