Canada’s pioneering role in hydrography

Manon Larocque oversees hydrographic efforts across one of the most geographically vast and diverse maritime regions in the world. Here, she shares her perspective on Canada’s influential role in the international hydrographic community and the challenges – and opportunities – presented by the country’s complex marine environment. The conversation touches on how evolving technologies are reshaping the way that hydrographers work, the importance of digital transformation, and why CHS-led S-100 sea trials are a milestone in the adoption of next-generation standards. It’s a thoughtful exchange that offers insight into both the current state and future direction of hydrography in Canada and beyond.

Canada is one of the first countries worldwide to adopt the S-100 standard. Do you see this as a sign of Canada’s pioneering role in hydrography?

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) is Canada’s agency for charting Canadian waters. Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world, with more than a third of its territory under water. As a maritime nation that borders three oceans – the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Pacific, oceans play a fundamental role in our Canadian history, culture, economy and way of life from coast to coast to coast. Our rich maritime history of hydrography goes all the way back to 1883, when the first Canadian hydrographic survey was conducted. The urgent need for Canadian hydrography was recognized after the 1882 sinking of the passenger steamer Asia in Georgian Bay claiming 150 lives, which led to the Georgian Bay Survey, the precursor to CHS, being established.

Hydrography is a science that is continually advancing and, as such, CHS has always been an innovative organization. Through participation in the International Hydrographic Organization’s (IHO’s) committees and working groups, CHS helps to develop, define and influence some of the standards. As we move to become fully integrated in a digital world, Canada continues to demonstrate a commitment to innovation.

Canada’s S-100 sea trials are a stellar example of CHS’ leadership in the implementation of new S-100 standards. As the first nation to offer the full S-100 Phase 1 package providing detailed navigational data such as water levels, currents, navigational warnings and high-resolution bathymetry, Canada is at the frontier of rolling out new S-100 products and services.

The IHO has approved Canada’s proposal to designate the St. Lawrence River as an international S-100 sea trial area starting in June 2025. What will this testing involve, and what are your expectations?

Endorsed by the IHO, CHS in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and others will host sea trials providing real-time S-100 data and services along the 350km stretch of the St. Lawrence Waterway, from 1 June to 30 November 2025.

We are opening up the trial to the international community and will be offering data free of charge for a limited period of time, where mariners and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will be invited to test the complete suite of S-100 route monitoring navigational services on the water or in a simulated environment, enabling them to evaluate system compatibility and identify opportunities for improvements before full deployment and legal use in 2026. The S-100 sea trials will allow participants to test multiple use cases, through which we will gather feedback that will be shared openly with the IHO Member States in order for us all to learn from this process. 

The sea trial in the St. Lawrence Seaway is the culmination of many years of hard work by my predecessors and staff at CHS, working collaboratively with our partners both domestically and internationally.

Given Canada’s vast geography and environmental diversity, hydrographers in your country face unique challenges, such as frozen waters and drifting ice. Can you share some insights into how your teams navigate these conditions?

Undertaking hydrographic surveys in the Canadian Arctic does bring with it some unique challenges for CHS. There is a short window each year in which it is possible to conduct our survey operations, generally from late July until the end of October. CHS works in close collaboration with the CCG – leveraging their icebreaking fleet – as well as the Royal Canadian Navy and dedicated private contracted charter vessels to collect data in the Arctic. In fact, six CCG icebreakers have been equipped with hull-mounted multibeam echosounders, which are key platforms used by CHS to undertake both dedicated and opportunistic surveys.

Surveying in the Arctic entails complex logistics and long lead times for planning. Flexibility is also important, as ice or weather conditions can sometimes dictate where and what type of surveys can be completed. CHS personnel require extensive training and must be equipped with protective gear such as survival suits.

Given the immense size of the Canadian Arctic (over four million km² with 36,000 islands), CHS is also actively assessing and pursuing new technologies such as uncrewed survey vessels (USVs), which have the promise of being a ‘force multiplier’ for traditional vessel-based surveys. We also leverage remote sensing data to more accurately map shorelines and estimate depths via satellite-derived bathymetry.

With Arctic waters becoming increasingly ice-free, how pressing is the need for comprehensive seafloor mapping in the region – and what risks do current data gaps pose?

Charting in the Arctic is crucial for safety and efficiency of navigation, resource management and research. The vastness of the Canadian Arctic represents a significant challenge in and of itself. With climate change leading to faster melting ice in the north and the opening of new navigation routes, there is an increase in maritime transport traffic in the Arctic regions with corresponding growing demand for modern charts in new or previously largely uncharted areas. More accurate, real-time data is increasingly crucial to continue to support the growing demands of the maritime community.

CHS hydrographers are actively involved in surveying Canada’s coasts and inland waterways. What are some of the most complex or significant projects currently underway?

In addition to the regular programme of work for CHS regarding production, updating and maintenance of our hydrographic products, there are a few projects underway to note. 

Digital transformation is about modernizing our traditional products and services to align with the global community’s move towards new standards as we enter a new digital era of marine navigation. As you can imagine, this is a major project. By transforming how we deliver products, we will provide near-real-time information into the hands of navigators, increasing safety as updated information of new hazards will be communicated more quickly and electronic navigation charts can be updated faster than traditional paper charts. These data-driven services will allow for more efficient shipping, supporting environmental and sustainability objectives. 

Tied to digital transformation are the new S-100 products and services, a number of which are scheduled to come online in 2026. CHS’ Quebec region is ready to roll out new S-100 products and services, which we will be trialling during survey season 2025 (June–November 2025) in the St. Lawrence Seaway.   

CHS received some federal funding to support the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP2). This funding is mainly being used to support two initiatives: i) Arctic charting (increasing surveys/coverage of low impact shipping corridors/high traffic areas in the Arctic) and ii) community hydrography (working with coastal/First Nations communities on the use of hydrographic tools/data to support community needs).   

Of course, we are also involved in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Working with Global Affairs Canada and Natural Resources Canada, CHS is gathering bathymetric data and conducting analysis to support Canada’s extended continental shelf in the Arctic.

Another project worth mentioning here is the Mackenzie River project. One of the significant challenges faced by CHS hydrographers is the need to keep products current in rapidly changing environments. While many coastal regions of Canada remain stable, others are dynamic and require regular updates to reflect ongoing changes – further exacerbated due to climate change. Due to its highly dynamic nature, the Mackenzie River has been selected as the first area in the country to test the integration of remote sensing-derived products via a hybrid methodology that integrates both synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical data from satellites. The imagery analysis process also incorporates automated procedures that utilize AI to expedite the maintenance of products. This multifaceted approach aims to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of nautical product creation and maintenance, ultimately resulting in superior products that are better adapted to changing environments.

How do you manage to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements in hydrographic surveying?

CHS works with the international community to keep pace with the development of new technologies such as drones, satellite-derived bathymetry, AI and uncrewed survey vehicles. Canada is an active participant in the IHO, supporting the Council and several working groups, and attends conferences to learn about the latest hydrographic science findings shared between academia, industry and government communities, share best practices and benefit from knowledge sharing.

Which recent technological innovations have had the most significant impact on the way CHS operates?

Over the coming decade, we should be moving to full S-100 implementation, meaning new route monitoring layers can be added over the electronic navigation charts and clients have access to a single maritime window (though single window is not a CHS lead, our products would be available via this window). Navigators have seamless information at their fingertips, with near-real-time updates of certain critical components, leading to more efficient route planning and less transit or idle time waiting to get into ports, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions and potentially reduces costs for consumers.   

Crowd-sourced bathymetry and innovative tools such as AI, drones, uncrewed vehicles and satellite-derived bathymetry are increasingly used as viable data sources, speeding up the process of collecting information leading to updated products and services. To align with these changes, the digital transformation of the organization is enabling it to become increasingly agile, investing in skills of the future with new training and recruitment approaches. 

The digital transformation of hydrography has resulted in vast volumes of high-resolution data. How does CHS manage, process and share these datasets effectively?

CHS effectively manages, processes and shares vast volumes of high-resolution hydrographic data through a comprehensive approach that encompasses the full value chain. CHS utilizes centralized databases and cloud storage solutions for efficient data management, employs advanced automated processing tools and the rule of three scales maximum for optimal data handling, and removes duplication in publications such as sailing directions to enhance clarity. Additionally, CHS uses a national gridded scheme for organizing data, promotes transparency through open data platforms, and collaborates with governmental and international agencies to ensure data consistency and support joint initiatives. These strategies ensure stakeholders have access to accurate and reliable information for safe navigation, resource management and environmental protection.

The S-100 hydrographic data products and services require a near constant feed of information. To ensure the quality of data coming from new technologies or third parties, it must undergo validation and requires significant data storage, maintenance and mining capability. The potential of S-100 is significant but may not be maximized until these processes can be further automated or ‘trained’ with the use of AI and machine learning. 

What does the future of the hydrographic profession in Canada look like? What skills will graduates require to meet the sector’s evolving needs?

The workforce of the future will need a combination of skills that include traditional technical and scientific skills such as hydrography, oceanography, GIS, geodesy and engineering combined with data managers and IT/AI experts to truly maximize the use of new technologies.  

The success of CHS relies not solely on hydrographers, but a combination of skills. The future employee must be agile, creative, innovative and able to exert critical thinking: communicators and collaborators that can work in partnership with external stakeholders and the international community.   

What initiatives are in place to raise awareness of hydrography among younger generations and inspire future professionals?

CHS leverages social media and outreach initiatives to highlight the important work that hydrographers do. At the international level, CHS proposed an Empowering Women in Hydrography project to the IHO to elevate women to leadership roles in hydrography. Some of our regional directors also visit academic institutions to raise the profile of CHS, presenting our work and type of work opportunities to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in STEM fields. We also participate/support student challenges organized in the context of the Canadian Hydrographic Conference every other year.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the international hydrographic community at this time?

Clearly, the context under which we work is changing rapidly. Factors such as technological advancements, the significant economic development in the north, and the need to protect the environment and ensure safety of navigators, in a context of fiscal restraint and increased security awareness – all encourage us to challenge our traditional ways of delivering products and services.

In the world of hydrography, the needs of our clients are evolving and the use of new, innovative technologies will transform our work as we move to a digital world. Establishing standards for data is of utmost importance, to enable interoperability of data and operational oceanography.

The opportunities offered via new S-100 products and services are significant. I encourage anyone interested to take part in the S-100 trials in the St. Lawrence River this coming survey season.

About Manon Larocque

Manon Larocque was appointed Hydrographer General of Canada and Director General of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) in September 2023. Mrs Larocque has 26 years of experience in the federal public service, taking on management/executive roles in Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Space Agency and more recently the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. In her current role, Mrs Larocque is chair of the US-Canada Hydrographic Commission, and leads Canada’s delegation to the IHO Assembly and the Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission.