A Seabed Mapping Initiative for the Channel Islands
Primary marine bathymetry datasets derived from full coverage high resolution multibeam sonar surveying, is critical for the development of marine knowledge, economy, and policy, as well as the protection of the marine environment of the Channel Islands.
Exposed to view of our advanced sonar technology, the Island’s waters reveal a fantastic array of submarine cliffs, sweeping sand dunes as well as a multitude of diverse marine habitats just waiting to be explored by oceanographers, marine scientists and intrepid divers. Many of these unexplored habitats will be candidate for protection and the data we collect will be a crucial starting point for this work.
Almost all activities in the ocean are underpinned by marine geospatial data. Our aim is to collect high-quality bathymetric data to UKHO standard S-102 for submission and validation by the Admiralty to support safety of navigation, environmental and scientific study.
Science, Collaboration and Education
The survey data will provide an important resource for informing multiple disciplines and become accessible to the broader scientific community, supporting research, maritime archaeology and public engagement. Through collaboration with UK universities we hope to explore and map areas of special scientific interest in Channel Island Waters and make the data available for future research.
