RCOOS and Ocean Information Tools for Decision Makers

The nascent Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (RCOOS) are expected to provide enhanced awareness of the coastal environment through the deployment of new sensors and the communication of user-driven information products. Successful utilization of RCOOS information will require close interaction with the intended user communities. The planned information systems and decision aids can benefit from Human Factors research. With the adoption of human-centered design principles and the employment of web-based technologies, RCOOS information can be quickly transmitted to those who need it, and visualized in ways that help users make critical decisions. We describe three web- based decision tools that identify the opportunities of this approach.