We have transferred all historical SEAKEYS/C-MAN data from mid-1992 to the present to our high-performance object database management system (GemStone). Data acquired daily are also placed automatically into this system, which now has a user interface for the downloading of any parameter from any station for any period of time (1992 to present). We will also soon have a capability with our user interface to the database management system to plot X-Y graphs of all data. Currently this system only works from a PC and not from a Web connection; however, we are working on that for the near future.
Some progress has been made on a new Web site for access by FIO field technicians and others for the purpose of reviewing and uploading sea-truth data soon after they are acquired. This should provide for a quicker turn-around of QC'ed data. The site is not ready at this time.
An expert system has been written for the automated recognition of meteorological and oceanographic features of interest, but much has to be done. At present, data are averaged for eight periods each day. These averages, associated with each other and compared among stations, will provide for the inferencing rules, to come next. The depth level recordings will be very important for this part of the system, as this indicates flux of the tides.
The systems analysis and design of the SEAKEYS/C-MAN data acquisition and reporting system was published in the Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Sympostium (1997).
We will be meeting with Drs. Gary Hitchcock and Terry Nelsen at their earliest convenience to discuss fluorometry and optical density measurement protocols. Their preliminary discussions settled on frequent sampling at the beginning of deployment of the instruments to determine the extent of drift and level of need for any special maintenance. Also, Dr. Hitchcock has indicated that he would like to conduct at least two 24 hour stations over the period of a year to further determine performance of the fluorometer. Our initial plan called for FIO field technicians to collect the water samples, freeze or otherwise preserved them, then transport them to Miami for analysis, as time permits.