Coastal observatories and real-time data collection: introduction

There is clearly a growing interest and demand for real-time information and this is reflecting in the increasing number of presentations. At the CMTC in 1999 there was only one paper reporting on real-time monitoring systems. By 2003, there were six papers and now in 2005 there are eight papers. The papers topics cover technological details of instruments, data assembly techniques and making current measurements as part of regional observing system. Cole et al. and Bosley et al. detail their experiences deploying instrumentation and transmitting the wave and current data by R/F line of sight communications to shore based data assembly and distribution centers. Pettigrew et al. and Howarth et al. review the progress they have made and problems they have encountered in developing regional observing systems in the Gulf of Maine and Liverpool Bay respectively. Devine and Dussault discuss the issues involved with collecting and using data operationally in an environment with lots of vessel traffic and a complicated geometry. Sanford et al. report on upgrading an APEX autonomous profiler with an EM current meter to report real-time deepwater current profiles. Grandi et al. report on a shallow water profiling system. And finally, Martini et al. presents a collection of software tools to aid with data assembly and visualization.