Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP), Federal Advisory Committee, 2007 Special Report
The HSRP, stood up by Congress to help address NOAA's strategic plan to improve the Marine Transportation System, has compiled their most significant advice and recommendations in their Report, "HSRP Most Wanted Hydrographic Services Improvements." This Report was presented to the NOAA Administrator during a public meeting in Washington, D.C. in March 2007. (April 2007)

NOAA Raster Navigational Charts Available for Free Download
NOAA's Raster Navigational Charts (NOAA RNCs™) are now available free to the public to download via the Internet. The files offered are geo-referenced, full-color images of NOAA's paper nautical charts, published and updated by NOAA in the .BSB format. NOAA RNCs™ are an official product of NOAA, are intended to be used in their electronic form only for navigational use, and meet the "Raster Navigational Charts", S-61 Standard, of the International Hydrographic Organization. (November 2005)

Improved On-Line Chart Catalogs
Coast Survey has installed "fast raster server" technology to let the boaters examine quickly its large format, regional, paper catalogs of nautical charts.  In addition, Coast Survey has created page-sized state catalogs of its chart suite, in Adobe .pdf format, that anyone can examine on-line or print at home for free.  The catalogs include locations where charts can be purchased.  The on-line regional chart catalogs and "print at home" state catalogs provide additional convenience for mariners as they search for charts to meet their needs. (July 2005)

NOAA's Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Workshop
In collaboration with the NOAA AUV Working Group, the National Ocean Service will host the second NOAA AUV Workshop on March 9, 2005 in Silver Spring, MD. The objective of this workshop is to continue to explore NOAA’s collaborative efforts in the development and implementation of AUV technology by providing a forum for NOAA line offices to share current AUV project status and future plans. AUVs are unmanned, untethered submersible robots that have the potential to become a critical, cost-effective component of future hydrographic survey operations. This year, AUV manufacturers will also be presenting information on their vehicles, capabilities, and AUV technology developments. (February 2005)

NOAA's Hydrographic Survey Priorities
NOAA's Hydrographic Survey Priorities document identifies NOAA's hydrographic survey priorities for general and long term project scheduling purposes. The graphics identify the general vintage of hydrographic surveys that have been applied to NOAA charts, and the basic technology used during data acquisition. NOAA continually reviews the marine community's needs for charting products and hydrographic surveys, and will review and update this document every year. (May 2007)

GIS Products and Services
NOAA's Coast Survey offers several products and services for Geographic Information System (GIS) users. As a result, Coast Survey developed a new area of its website to highlight those products. (November 2004)

nowCOAST
In a continuing effort to improve maritime safety and commerce and to monitor physical changes in weather, oceanographic and river conditions, NOAA introduces nowCOAST. nowCOAST is a Web mapping portal providing the coastal community with real-time coastal observations and NOAA forecasts for major U.S. estuaries and seaports, coastal regions and the Great Lakes. With a few simple clicks of the mouse, users are able to access thousands of real-time observing stations and forecast locations. (January 2005)

NOAA ENC Direct to GIS
The NOAA ENC® Direct to GIS web portal provides comprehensive access to display, query, and download all available large-scale NOAA ENC® data in a variety of GIS/CAD formats for non-navigational purposes using Internet mapping service technology. Nautical chart features contained within a NOAA ENC® provide a detailed representation of the U.S. coastal and marine environment. These data include coastal topography, bathymetry, landmarks, geographic placenames and marine boundaries.. (October 2004)