Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 S.171
Advisor
Semester
Professor Lloyd Kass led the team analyzing The Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (S.171). S.171 aims to develop and implement a system to track and analyze coastal and oceanographic observations with the mission of improving the warning and reaction structure for extreme climate and natural hazards. Through these efforts, which would be overseen by an interagency committee, the Act aims to enhance homeland security, support maritime operations, and improve management of resources from coastal and ocean areas. At the final briefing the group conveyed the goals of the Act emphasizing the need for real-time modeling in shaping those goals, also taking into account the certification processes and previous case studies, such as the work of the Rutgers University Coastal Ocean Observation Laboratory (RUCOOL) and the projected budgetary plans needed to implement the Act. The group also focused on developing a plan to track the work of the committee down through the work of regional organizers, in order to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of the systems.