ICES Guidelines for Multibeam Echosounder data

Abstract

If you are considering producing a hydrographic survey please read the following information first. Your survey could be used to compile new or updated nautical charts and so help improve safety for mariners. Your survey does not have to be carried out to full charting standards and all data collected is potentially of use. Even without a full search for dangers, a modern survey can improve on our knowledge of the seabed. Some advice on how to help us to get the best out of your survey follows below. But even if you are unsure about these requirements, we would still like to receive a copy of your survey. It may reveal changes that should be shown on the chart as a “less water reported” legend, and/or may lead to a full survey being carried out. Hydrographic and bathymetric data centres such as the UK Hydrographic Office’s (UKHO) Seabed Data Centre (SDC) (see Annex B for contact details) are always happy to give help and advice on hydrographic data gathering requirements in order to increase the usefulness of hydrographic survey data. Just a few minor changes to how your data is gathered and presented can make it much more useful for charting and other purposes