The
Hydrographic Science Research Center (HSRC)
at The University of Southern Mississippi was
created to develop and broaden the applications
of ocean mapping and navigation technology.
The HSRC provides research support to address
the needs of governmental and commercial clients
for information related to ocean navigation,
the ocean floor and ocean processes. Development
of the center emerged from a summit of 30 scientists
from the United States and Canada, convened
in October 2000 at The University of Southern
Mississippi's Gulf Park campus to develop a
plan for a national center of excellence in
hydrography.
The
director of the HSRC is Don Roman, who has served
both as the executive officer for the U.S. Naval
Oceanographic Office and as chief of staff for
the Commander of Naval Meteorology and Oceanography
Command. His
focus is to direct the center's efforts toward
improving navigation and charting capabilities
for the Navy, commercial vessels, and recreational
boaters. Retired Rear Adm. Kenneth E.
Barbor, former Commander of Naval Meteorology
and Oceanography for the U.S. Navy, was the
founding director of the HSRC. Now a director
of the International Hydrographic Bureau based
in Monaco, Adm. Barbor continues to be an advocate
for the important work ongoing at HSRC.
The
center is located within the USM Department
of Marine Science offices in Bldg. 1020 at the
Stennis Space Center.
HSRC Overview
Hydrography has traditionally been confined
to providing navigation charts for the route
planning and operation of surface ships. With
the development of more sophisticated spectral
sensors and computers, and the recent requirements
for rapid environmental assessment, this traditional
role has changed to the management of spatial
and temporal information of all marine terrain
features, processes and properties. This new
role includes the acquisition, analysis and
visualization of this spatial/temporal information.
A major driving force in this new role is the
recent technological developments in positioning,
extraction of seabed information, remote sensing
and the production of digital products. In addition,
the modern user of hydrographic data requires
complete and up-to-date marine environmental
information that is easily accessible and presented
in a useable form.
Hydrographic
technology and methods are rapidly evolving,
and HSRC personnel seek to understand emerging
trends and to modify and advance these trends
to provide solutions for its primary clients.
In doing so, the center will (a) analyze and
assess promising developments in hydrography
and related sciences, (b) select those developments
which have a high probability of enhancing client
programs and objectives, (c) undertake research
and implement new developments to blend emerging
technologies with client's evolving needs, and
(d) devise new approaches and techniques as
required by these developments.
Director: Don
Roman,
Hydrographic Science Research Center
The University of Southern Mississippi
1020 Balch Boulevard
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
228-688-3720
don.roman@usm.edu
Director: