Tours of CCOM/JHC

The public is invited to visit CCOM/JHC in the Jere A. Chase Ocean Engineering Laboratory on UNH's Durham campus. The building has unique facilities, such as the 20-foot deep engineering tank and 120-foot long wave tank. Andy McLeod shows eighth graders the Phoenix ROV.Cutting-edge research installations include a telepresence console that connects CCOM/JHC researchers with scientists at sea and the Visualization Lab's panoramic display. Most importantly, CCOM/JHC staff are recognized as leaders in their fields and are happy to talk about their research, which spans such topics as the behavior of whales underwater, the remains of the WWI German fleet off the coast of Scotland, 3D visualization, ship tracking, and, of course, mapping the ocean floor.

If your group is interesting in visiting, please contact the CCOM/JHC Outreach Specialist, Tara Hicks Johnson, by calling 862-1417 or emailing her at
tjohnson@ccom.unh.edu.

Roland Arsenault helps a visitor use the panoramic display.To help Tara arrange your visit, please be prepared with the following information:

  • Group Name 
  • Contact Name
  • Contact Information (phone/email) 
  • Number of people in the group
  • Purpose of the visit
  • The length of time you would like your tour  to last 
  • Possible visit dates
  • Possible visit times (for each of the dates given above) 
  • Number of parking spaces (we can reserve a maximum of 4 spaces)

Visitors watch as waves are generated in the wave tank.Some of the tour components offered include:

  • A tour of the High Bay, including ROVs, bouys, the deep tank, the wave tank (typically lasts 20-60 minutes, depending on interests)
  • The Telepresence Console (typically lasts 15-30 minutes)
  • For small groups, a tour of the Data Visualization Lab (typically lasts 15-30 minutes)
  • Interactive Great Bay Flow Touch Exhibit/Weather Wall (time here depends on the number of people in your group)

Topics of interest for speakers/presentations (talks typically last 20-60 minutes, depending on interest):

  • The Law of the Sea
  • Data Visualization: Whales
  • Data Visualization: The Chart of the Future
  • The GEBCO program
  • LIDAR
  • AUVs/ROVs
  • Seafloor Mapping