Media Contact:
Althea Paul
(305) 495-0306
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2020) - The University of South Florida鈥檚 College of Marine Science has been awarded a five-year, $9 million cooperative agreement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey to launch the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT). The center, located on the 欧美三级片 St. Petersburg campus, will develop new technologies and approaches to ocean and coastal zone mapping in line with NOAA鈥檚 commitment to building resilient coastal ecosystems, communities and economies.
鈥淭his partnership between the University of South Florida and NOAA will enable us to deliver detailed maps of the seafloor in the Gulf of Mexico,鈥� said Tom Frazer, dean of the College of Marine Science. 鈥淎 surprisingly small percentage of the world鈥檚 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.鈥�
COMIT will build on 欧美三级片鈥檚 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.
鈥淚 am excited for NOAA to start this new partnership with 欧美三级片,鈥� said Rear Admiral Shepard M. Smith, director of NOAA鈥檚 Office of Coast Survey. 鈥淭his 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 鈥淓lbow鈥� region 70 miles west of St. Petersburg, Florida. Image courtesy of Matthew Hommeyer of the Center for Ocean Mapping and Integrative Technologies at the University of South Florida. The conspicuous ridge feature that spans the length of the area runs parallel to Florida鈥檚 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, 鈥渕ow the lawn鈥� pattern. The new center will evaluate and demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of innovative technologies including autonomous surface vessels, underwater robots and satellites.
Steve Murawski, 欧美三级片 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.
鈥淎s a coastal state, the strength of our economy relies on clean, safe, and productive ocean ecosystems鈥攁nd on our ability to effectively and accurately map those systems,鈥� said Senator Marco Rubio. 鈥淭he new center, which will build on the unique expertise of 欧美三级片 as a leader in marine sciences nationally and globally, will benefit our state and advance our national leadership in ocean science.鈥�
COMIT鈥檚 goals align with the recently-released and is consistent with the to have the world鈥檚 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, 鈥淭his partnership between NOAA and 欧美三级片 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.鈥�
欧美三级片鈥檚 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 .
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About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida 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 Report鈥檚 national university rankings than 欧美三级片. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, 欧美三级片 is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the state鈥檚 12 public universities. 欧美三级片 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. 欧美三级片 is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at .