gov.noaa.ncei.oer:LaserLine2006 eng; USA utf8 collectionSession collection-level metadata NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact 2026-03-23T19:40:30 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009 Operation Laser Line 2006 2006 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/oer-digital-atlas/mapsOE.htm OER Digital Atlas information pointOfContact NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information publisher Mapping the coral reefs has been identified as one of the first and most important steps needed to address the increasing decline of the world's coral reefs. Either photography or direct observation is required to identify corals and other coral-reef community organisms, but only small areas can be covered with these techniques. Laser line scanning has been suggested as an alternative method that can provide high-resolution imagery of the sea floor over a much wider area than conventional photography. Laser line scan (LLS) systems sweep a blue-green laser across the ocean bottom and use the reflected light to generate a gray-scale image of the sea floor, similar to black-and-white photography. The NOAA Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center, in collaboration with partners from the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration, the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, and the University of Hawaii Botany Department will embark on a six- day research cruise, from November 8 to 13, 2006. The only commercially available LLS system in the world will be deployed at a handful of sites off the coast of Maui. Expedition survey targets include beds of commercially harvested black coral; a recently discovered, deep, hard-coral reef; an important nursery area and fishing site for commercially harvested groundfish; deep algae beds; and a World War II aircraft wreck. This wide range of targets will enable us to thoroughly evaluate LLS technology, and hopefully provide the impetus to design less expensive and more capable LLS systems to meet the management and research needs of our coral reef ecosystems. To test laser line scanning technology in its ability to address questions related to the management of coral reef ecosystems. Detailed maps of benthic (sea bottom) habitats are tools necessary for this type of management, including a spatial component of coral reefs and the organisms that live there. Multibeam echosounders can be used to generate high-resolution maps of sea-floor bathymetry and backscatter imagery (which provides additional information about the composition of the sea floor). John Rooney PIFSC Benthic Habitat Characterization Ecologist 808.725.5438 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176 Honolulu HI 96818 USA john.rooney@noaa.gov principalInvestigator https://data.noaa.gov/docucomp/image/5abab464-7994-49fc-8a2f-ec337a11bfd4 NOAA logo PNG EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2025 revision 22 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Ocean Exploration mapping coral reefs photography laser line scan lls pacific island fisheries science center hawaii undersea research center hurl black coral theme expedition exploration explorer marine education noaa ocean discovery ocean education ocean exploration ocean exploration and research ocean literacy ocean research science scientific mission sea stewardship systematic exploration technology transformational research undersea underwater theme North Pacific Ocean Au-au Channel Hawaiian Islands place otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Data use shall be credited to NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. No data access constraints, unless data are protected under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. eng; USA oceans -160 -155 19 22 2006-11-08 2006-11-13 https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/06laserline/welcome.html asNeeded