The CZML one could be seamless topobathy DEM created by merging topobathy lidar data and MBES data or seamless topobathymetric DEM of the Lower Withlacoochee River. Courtesy of Dewberry
MAPPS, NOAA,
and the Federal Agency Liaison Program BY MARK SAFRAN
T
his is the second in a series of four articles that highlights the MAPPS Federal Agency Liaison Program with federal agency partners and specifically with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where MAPPS member firms have a strong interest in programs, contracts, and ongoing collaboration. By developing and continuing impactful relationships with federal agencies like NOAA, we seek to improve opportunities for MAPPS member firms and help our federal partners sustain and grow their programs, which ultimately benefit all Americans. The first in this series appeared in the Februabry issue and can be found on xyHt.com
MAPPS LIAISON PROGRAM
The MAPPS Liaison Program, designed with member firms in mind, works to foster dialogue between the private sector and its government partners and offers opportunities to shape the discussion of issues and programs of interest to our industry. Through the program, we learn and understand what agencies’ funding priorities are, determine if they align with MAPPS’ interests, and educate stakeholders on the importance of these programs. Our work to advocate on behalf of member firms helps shape public policy and supports legislative advocacy for the geospatial community. We also promote opportunities in the mapping community through involvement in their programs and contract opportunities. As the MAPPS liaison with NOAA, my role is to partner, collaborate, support, coordinate, report, and communicate between NOAA and the MAPPS Liaison Coordinator, the MAPPS board, and MAPPS membership.
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JUNE 2024
ABOUT NOAA
NOAA, which plays a key role in shaping policies for our nation’s oceans, fisheries, climate, space, and weather industries, is an obvious choice for the MAPPS Liaison Program. NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) oversees most of the NOAA geospatial contracts that are of interest to the MAPPS community. “Geospatial information is at the core of supporting NOAA’s mission. Geospatial technologies provide the framework to collect, store, analyze, and disseminate ‘NOAA’s Environmental Intelligence.’ NOAA is also the authoritative source for multiple national datasets that form the foundation for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, to include geodetic control, nautical charts, coastal elevation, weather and climate models, critical habitat, and satellite and observational platforms.” Read more at www.noaa.gov.
NOAA CONTRACTS OF INTEREST
Three contracts of specific interest to our
AccessAIS is a temporal geospatial app published within NOAA and BOEM’s Marine Cadastre program that enables users to interactively download U.S. vessel traffic data across user-defined geographies and time periods. Photo courtesy of Dewberry