Acoustic Propagation Analysis Program for Marine Scientists

The goal of the Phase II project is to develop a prototype of the Marine Acoustic Propagation System (MAPS). MAPS is a computer system designed in a client-server archi9tecture that provides NOAA marine scientists, who do not have an extensive background in underwater acoustics, with a tool that selects the appropriate acoustic model for estimating underwater propagation loss for anthropogenic noise sources. The prototype system will allow a marine scientist to specify the characteristics of an anthropogenic noise source and the environment in which it will occur through a client computer program. The information entered into the client program will then be sent to a server which will select the appropriate acoustic propagation loss model, and run the required calculations. The propagation loss calculation results will then be sent back to the client program which will allow the mare scientist to view and analyze the results. The development of the prototype system requires obtaining and implementing the propagation loss models and associated databases, developing the MAPS concept of operations, developing and testing computer software for both the client and server computers and demonstrating the system for the program sponsor.