Crowdsourced bathymetry - Helping to chart the unknown
Yacht owners like to go to remote places. That makes them interesting partners in the collection of seabed data.
Our oceans are largely unexplored, with only about 26.1 percent of the seabed known. To support ocean activities, monitor changes in the marine environment, and implement sustainable practices, increasing our knowledge is crucial. Crowdsourcing depth data offers a unique chance to support /contribute to the creation of a detailed map of the ocean floor.
By involving a wide range of contributors, including research vessels, autonomous underwater vehicles, and recreational sailors, vast areas of the oceans can be covered. Recreational sailors can play a vital role in covering coastal waters, says IHO Secretary-General Dr. Mathias Jonas.
The best-known areas are those along the commercial shipping routes. Yachts like to go to remote places. That’s why they can provide unique data.
Data gathered thanks to crowdsourced bathymetry (CSB) can help avoid ship groundings and accidents, making navigation safer. It also reveals seabed shapes, providing habitat information for marine species and improving our understanding of ocean currents and circulation, which scientists use to enhance models. Participants can use affordable technology solutions compatible with existing navigation instruments to collect and share data. This information is then made available through dedicated platforms like the IHO Data Center for Digital Bathymetry (DCDB) data viewer for various uses. More information on how to contribute and discover CSB data can be found at https://iho.int/en/crowdsourced-bathymetry.