You are here
The Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network and Its Role in NGS Height Modernization
Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science
Texas A&M University
Corpus Christi
The Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network tidal datums are being connected to the NGS National Spatial Reference System through the Height Modernization program, which allows coastal communities an up-to-date connection of local benchmarks and CORS stations to the latest local mean sea level values. This is part of NOAA’s efforts to make coastal communities more resilient to short=term and long-term sea level change.
Dr. Gary A. Jeffress is the Director of the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, a Professor of Geographic Information Science, and a Registered Professional Land Surveyor with expertise on the littoral boundary. Dr. Jeffress is one of the leading researchers in the observation of coastal oceanographic scientific data, leading the design and development of the Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network (TCOON), a cutting-edge network of tide and meteorological stations along the Texas coast. TCOON was established in 1988 and became part of the Texas Natural Resources Code in 1991 through the state legislature. The TCOON data has been used in a number of legal proceedings including a case reviewed twice by the Texas Supreme court. TCOON provides the primary tidal data for the computation of tidal datums in Texas in cooperation with NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services.
