| Organization and Activities |
{Click here [DOC, PDF] to download the full CARRUS concept paper} Administrative Structure:
The Alliance would involve a governing body consisting of representatives from each partner program. A secretariat would be established, consisting of a coordinator and administrative assistant. An educational team would develop the educational aspects of the program. A technical team from would coordinate and lead analytical, modeling and visualization tool development, as well as the centralization of access to data from scientific research and management interventions.
Workshops:
There should be at least one annual workshop of representatives of each integrated research program. Additional workshops for specific purposes would be developed in response to specific needs and Alliance initiatives.
Data Centralization and Visualization:
Broad, online access to data generated by the member programs will be essential to comparative analyses and modeling activities. The presentation of summarized spatially-explicit data in 3D visualizations will be used to enhance conceptualization and understanding of complex coral reef processes by scientists, mangers, students, and the general public (Fig. 1). The computer software developed for these purposes would be made widely available.
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Figure 1. Diagram of a future GIS-based decision support tool, indicating links to satellite and field data, inputs from and outputs to managers and stakeholders, and the process by which existing data could feed into simulations resulting in new GIS layers.
Analytical, Visualization and Modeling Tool Development
The parameterization and long-term validation of interdisciplinary models will be a unifying feature of the Alliance, drawing integrated programs with varying objectives toward common goals, and comparable data sets and analytical summaries. Scenario-testing models can be integrated into online Geographic Information Systems (GIS) linked to advanced online visualizations, such as 3D fly-throughs of parameter-specific maps. Key components to do this are available in various forms, including the Data Navigator Systems and associated models. There is a need to combine these approaches and enhance the resulting system with further statistical analysis, modeling and visualization capabilities (Fig 1). The software system can be adapted to each study area, with user-interfaces for purposes ranging from downloading data for analysis to teaching students and the public about coral reef processes and management. From this work would be developed software toolkits to facilitate the development of similar modeling capabilities in other areas around the world.
Scientist and Student Exchanges
Each country involved in integrated coral reef studies has certain strengths and weaknesses. Addressing the weaknesses can involve exchange programs for scientists and students among integrated research programs. This approach will also improve convergence towards common field methodology, and analytical and modeling comparability.
Online Educational Website
Although providing online access to data visualizations will have educational benefits, a far greater educational benefit will be achievable by linking the data to a more comprehensive educational website. Material on the website can be tuned to high school and college curricula, and include a broader interface for the general public.
Joint Expeditions with Online Teaching
Various research vessels can be used for expeditions to the study areas, with ties to online participatory education (as with the recent KSLOF Seychelles and Red Sea Expeditions). Expeditions to the integrated study sites can avail of the large amount of accumulated information and link to the educational website.
Potential Impacts
The CARRUS Alliance will be an extremely cost-effective activity, which will help to focus a substantial amount of pre-existing committed funds currently aimed at local reef management support, to producing results of global importance. The results will include:
- Better understanding and management of coral reefs;
- Better educated students and an informed public; and
- Broader public support for reef studies and conservation efforts.
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