Thursday, March 29, 2012

Big Benefits from NGS' Coastal Mapping Program

The National Geodetic Survey's (NGS) Coastal Mapping Program, which surveys the nation's 95,000-mile coastline, provided an estimated $241 million in total benefits to the nation in 2011, according to an independent socioeconomic study. The study analyzed the program's direct economic benefits, economic benefits through secondary effects, and non-economic benefits, such as those to safety and the environment. Direct economic benefits alone were greater than 15 times the cost of the program, which was estimated to support about 1,500 outside jobs. Information on total benefits helps to inform resource allocation decisions and determine how to best meet the public's information needs.

To view the NOAA press release announcing the results of the study, please visit:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2012/032812_coastalmapping-economicvalue.html

To view the study conducted by Leveson Consulting, please visit:
http://geodesy.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/CMP_Socio-Economic_Scoping_Study_Final.pdf

For more information, contact Nicole Cabana.