SEAMAP Information System
Biological and environmental data from all SEAMAP-Gulf surveys are included in the SEAMAP Information System, managed in conjunction with NMFS-SEFSC. Raw data are edited by the collecting agency and verified by the SEAMAP Data Manager prior to entry into the system. Data from all SEAMAP-Gulf surveys during 1982-2006 have been entered into the system and data from 2007 surveys are in the process of being verified, edited, and entered for storage and retrieval.

The requirements report for an integrated data system, Data Management System Design Study for Gulf and South Atlantic, 1987, was completed in March 1987. The document identifies the high-level design specifications and recommended implementation plan for a module-based SEAMAP Data Management System (DMS). The design is based on information contained in the SEAMAP Gulf and South Atlantic DMS Requirements Document developed through a cooperative effort between NMFS and other SEAMAP participants. The document has five sections: (1) background and brief descriptions of current centralized and proposed distributed systems; (2) summary of the Requirements Survey; (3) overview of the system's architecture; (4) description of developmental modules constituting the DMS design; and (5) modular implementation plan which includes costs and schedule.

Work was completed during FY1990 on the distributed SEAMAP DMS. The modules for the system include those for data entry, edit, upload, data query and download. All of the Gulf, South Atlantic, and Caribbean participants are now equipped with the necessary computer hardware and software to access the system. The system is decentralized, or distributed, thus, the SEAMAP users are able to locally, and directly, enter and retrieve data. Software for the system has been distributed to participants for trial runs of data input. This system decreases the time necessary to enter and retrieve data and provides powerful and flexible local data analysis and display capabilities. Under the system, each SEAMAP site enters, verifies and edits their data, eliminating the mail-oriented loop necessary to enter/edit/verify data. Secondly, each site has the capability of locally accessing SEAMAP data, utilizing a user-friendly system. Local data retrieval allows the data to be accessed in a timely manner with a minimum amount of effort and programming skills.

Under the system, outside users (e.g., Minerals Management Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, etc.) may request special data sets for research or study. The outside users submit the request to the SEAMAP Subcommittee through the appropriate coordinator for approval to proceed. Once the request is approved, the information is provided by the Data Manager and staff members through a priority-based, mail-oriented system. Also, SEAMAP participants may use the Special Request mechanism for data sets too large for economical downloading by telephone. These requests will be handled by a Central Operations staff in the same priority-based, mail-oriented manner as noted above. If you are interested in obtaining SEAMAP data, please contact Jeff Rester at (228) 875-5912 or via e-mail.

[Go back to the SEAMAP Home Page]

If you have any comments or problems concerning this page, please contact the .

Last modified: July 08, 2008