Applications of GIS to the Ocean Environment

Geographers and Computer Specialists have developed geographic information systems (GIS) for land-based decision making in resource management. These systems provide a set of analysis and display functions suitable for the land data model. The paper describes some important differences between land and ocean information systems. A preliminary data model should have the ability to store the locations of features in (x, y, z) reference space. Each feature may be a point, line, contour, polygon, pixel, or volume record in a common data-base management system. In ocean information systems, the analysis and display functions have to be able to handle the dynamic, continuous nature of this three-dimensional environment. Application projects undertaken with the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and the Defence Research Establishment Atlantic illustrate the potential of current GIS.