During my third and fourth weeks working at BOEM, I was given the opportunity to attend weekly staff meetings discussing a variety of topics within each branch of the Division of Environmental Assessment in the Office of Environmental Programs (OEP/DEA). The OEP/DEA includes research in a variety of topics from oil spill modeling, and marine life protection to oceanography and maritime archaeology in the Gulf of Mexico. This gave me a deeper understanding of how important the other areas are in the bigger picture. I finished creating maps displaying the suggested site boundaries for the shipwreck nominations. It was important to create the boundaries in a geo-rectified ArcGIS map to give precise coordinates and measurements of the sites. After the map boundaries were created and scaled appropriately, the points were added to the shipwreck nomination database. Images and charts were added to the database.
Shipwrecks are an important part of history. For many people it reflects more than a job, but rather an identity. Having the privilege to help voice the urgency for these icons of maritime history has brought me a strong sense of pride and a new respect for the field that I work in.
Shipwrecks are an important part of history. For many people it reflects more than a job, but rather an identity. Having the privilege to help voice the urgency for these icons of maritime history has brought me a strong sense of pride and a new respect for the field that I work in.