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''NOTE: This is a TEST SITE for consideration of WikiForge as a platform, migrating content from the existing wiki on GitHub (adapting from markdown to wikitext). Many links still connect to GitHub for now as we test importing additional content and explore the options for hosting Issues, Discussions, and other features currently available on the GitHub-based wiki.''

Welcome
The Ocean Mapping Community Wiki is hosted by the Multibeam Advisory Committee (MAC). This is a collaborative space to share resources and expertise from the global ocean mapping community, with the aim of improving data quality for all.

The value of this wiki depends on community involvement. Your helpful resources, best practices, and 'lessons learned' are welcome! Get involved by becoming a contributor or joining the public discussions and troubleshooting forums.

Announcements
Check out the Community Announcements and Awareness section for non-commercial news from around the ocean mapping community.

Contributing
We hope you'll add your expertise to the conversation and [mailto:omcadmin@ccom.unh.edu reach out] with any questions or suggestions.

See the Contribution Guidelines to see who is contributing and how we are moderating the site content.

Recently updated

 * 1) Help out your navigators with the ECDIS Converter for survey line plans
 * 2) Share non-commercial news under the Community Announcements and Awareness section
 * 3) Concatenate files in the File Trimmer (e.g., for patch test processing)
 * 4) Sound Speed Manager now supports World Ocean Atlas 2018!
 * 5) The Swath Coverage Plotter now tracks changes in multibeam settings and offsets
 * 6) Added a Wishlist for priority topics - chime in!
 * 7) Started a Software Updates page to easily find the latest versions of common mapping software
 * 8) Added an informal list of Top 10 Multibeam Issues to highlight common complications (and solutions)
 * 9) Made a new page for Sea Acceptance Testing (and Quality Assurance Testing) to discuss approaches and expectations

Note: Force-refresh your browser cache (e.g., F5) if links appear misdirected.

Multibeam topics
A wide variety of topics have been suggested by partners in academia, government, and industry.

This list is under development and some links may point to GitHub while new pages are created. Suggestions are welcome!


 * 1) Dimensional Control - sensor offsets and survey info required for system performance
 * 2) Hardware health - assessing hardware for science readiness and life cycle planning
 * 3) Calibration (patch test)] - resources for calibrating multibeam sonars
 * 4) SAT/QAT approaches - sea acceptance trials (SAT) and quality assurance testing (QAT)
 * 5) Sound speed - recommendations for incorporating sound speed into survey operations
 * 6) Data acquisition] - key requirements and recommendations during acquisition
 * 7) Data processing - available software and resources for processing
 * 8) Backscatter processing - guidance for improving backscatter imagery
 * 9) Backscatter normalization - steps for correcting hardware-level biases
 * 10) Assessment tools - tools to help assess multibeam data quality and performance
 * 11) Transit mapping - route planning to **map the gaps** and verify system performance
 * 12) Troubleshooting - common symptoms and solutions to augment manufacturer support

Other mapping topics
Resources for other systems, from the surface through the sediments.

Mapping basics

 * 1) Seafloor Mapping Glossary - helpful terms and examples

ADCP resources

 * 1) UHDAS - University of Hawaii Data Acquisition System for ADCPs
 * 2) UHDAS Presentation at RVTEC 2020

Midwater mapping
See the Water Column Mapping page for more information.
 * 1) Calibration of Acoustic Instruments - how to perform TS sphere calibrations
 * 2) What is Water Column Data? - NOAA overview and outreach
 * 3) Water Column Sonar Data Viewer - find publicly available water column data
 * 4) Water Column Mapping - UNH overview
 * 5) Midwater Mapping Working Group

Subbottom profiling
Subbottom topics

Positioning
Positioning topics

Data Resources
Below are a few helpful resources to find, manage and evaluate ocean mapping data.

Open-source data tools

 * 1) HydrOffice - a collaborative research-to-operations framework, including Sound Speed Manager and QC Tools
 * 2) Ocean Data Tools - tools for data acquisition, management and event logging, including OpenRVDAS, OpenVDM and Sealog
 * 3) GMRT Tiler - a package for comparing processed data to the GMRT grid to identify issues with sound velocity, etc., and ensure suitability for archive
 * 4) MB-SYSTEM - an open source package commonly used for automated / scripted processing of data from AUVs and other vehicles
 * 5) CoFFee - a free and open-source MATLAB toolbox in development for reading multibeam sonar raw data files, visualizing their contents, and applying various processing algorithms; it serves as the engine for several apps/GUIs designed for specific applications, such as Iskaffe for multibeam backscatter data QC
 * 6) themachinethatgoesping is a python library in development to perform advanced processing of multibeam and singlebeam echosounder data
 * 7) Awesome Hydrospatial - a library of open-source software related to seafloor mapping
 * 8) Free and Offline Mapping Software - focused on free GIS resources
 * 9) Cloud Compare - a tool for visualizing multibeam data and doing simple analysis
 * 10) kepler.gl - geospatial analysis tool for large-scale data sets

Best practices

 * 1) Ocean Best Practices - a repository for ocean science SOPs from around the world
 * 2) IHO-IO GEBCO Cookbook - a technical reference manual focused on how to build grids
 * 3) NOAA OER Deepwater Exploration Mapping - a reference for NOAA OER mapping operations on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer
 * 4) Australian Multibeam Guidelines - a technical reference manual focused on multibeam operations

Helpful presentations and papers

 * 1) Sonar Synchronization and Tradeoffs
 * 2) Rolling Deck to Repository Overview -  2020 RVTEC
 * 3) Open Vessel Data Management - 2020 RVTEC
 * 4) Lessons Learned from a Successful Integration of the EM 304 MKII Variant Multibeam Sonar
 * 5) Ocean Exploration in a Data-Rich World - white paper from 2022 National Ocean Exploration Forum
 * 6) Exploring the use of Sound Speed Profiles... - 2022 Ocean Sciences
 * 7) Calibration of Acoustic Instruments - Summarizes fundamental sonar theory and details calibration methods.
 * 8) Multibeam Sonar Theory of Operation - a clear overview of sonar concepts (multibeam and sidescan)
 * 9) GPS visualization - a clearly animated presentation of GPS/GNSS principles

Why map the ocean?
Most of this wiki focuses on how to map the watery 71% of our planet. Here are a few examples of why.

Beyond the critical role of safety of navigation, ocean mapping is important for a wide array of reasons, such as:


 * 1) confirming plate tectonics and ancient oceans
 * 2) understanding ocean circulation and climate
 * 3) studying historic tsunamis and present risks
 * 4) managing fisheries and food sources
 * 5) tracking sources of greenhouse gases
 * 6) routing global submarine cables
 * 7) catching up to maps of our moon and Mars

Multibeam Advisory Committee
The NSF-funded Multibeam Advisory Committee (MAC) was established in 2010 to support high-quality multibeam data collection in the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (USARF). Typical MAC support follows a prioritized list of steps, adapted for each interaction to address the vessel's science needs within the constraints of ship scheduling and working areas. All reports are publicly available for reference.

While the MAC is funded to support the USARF, its members work with a wide variety of mapping programs and platforms through UNH CCOM/JHC and Columbia University LDEO. The MAC hosts this wiki to share and improve its approach (e.g., test procedures and assessment tools) as just one part of a broader community effort toward high-quality data collection from the sea surface through the sediments.

Contact us
Please contact us at [mailto:omcadmin@ccom.unh.edu omcadmin@ccom.unh.edu] with feedback or contributions.