Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2013
Department
Marine Science
Abstract
Crowdsourced bathymetry (CSB) data may be collected by any type of vessel, using a variety of sonar systems and for myriad reasons. Enlisting the resources of recreational boaters, pilot boats, tug boats, cruise ships, as well as fully equipped research ships in the “opportunistic” mode, this acquisition of bathymetric data may potentially open data streams of current observations to navigators, cartographers, scientists, engineers, and coastal zone planners. The strengths and benefits of CSB data are the temporal frequency in repetitive and constant observations in heavily trafficked areas, access to an unlimited workforce, availability of critical nautical data for the maritime community within a short timeframe, and engagement of the wider user community that will readily contribute to the mapping of our coastal zone. A team from the SURVICE Engineering Company, CARIS USA, and the University of Southern Mississippi has demonstrated the potential of CSB to process bathymetric data that provide valuable information to users. This paper discusses the use of autonomously collected time, observation, and position data from vessels that operate without regard to bathymetric survey objectives to characterize the representation of seafloor structure. Examples of comparative differences with existing chart data are discussed for ongoing Baltimore Harbor, South Carolina Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), and Antarctic Peninsula case studies.
Recommended Citation
Franzoni, Chiara, and Henry Sauermann. “Crowd Science: The Organization of Scientific Research in Open Collaborative Projects.” Social Science Research Network, http://papers.ssrn.com/, November 2012. Hydrographic Services Review Panel. “Most Wanted Hydrographic Services Improvements.” Federal Advisory Committee Update Report, USDOC/NOA/NOS, 2010. SURVICE Engineering Company. http://argus.survice.com/. February 2013. Van Norden, Maxim, and John Hersey. “Crowdsourcing for Hydrographic Data – A Tool for Updating Nautical Charts.” Hydro-International, Vol. 16, No. 7, October 2012.