Proteus Geo Wins ESA Backing to Advance Bathymetry Data Service

Proteus Geo, UK, together with DHI, has won the backing of the European Space Agency (ESA) to create a new bathymetry data service that leverages DigitalGlobe satellite imagery to allow everyone to explore the shallows around the world’s coastlines. Over the last four years, Proteus Geo has worked in partnership with DHI to provide their customers with bathymetry data, derived from satellites.

This service has allowed engineers, defence forces and environmentalists (amongst many other users) to remotely learn about the sea and lake beds under shallow water, where access has previously been difficult and expensive.

ESA has now awarded Proteus Geo and DHI with substantial financial backing to improve the efficiency of the data processing chain and encourage the wider use of this source of vital information. The companies will use high-accuracy, high-resolution satellite imagery captured by DigitalGlobe’s satellite constellation to create a dataset that will show the depth of water in over 100,000 km² of both salt and fresh water coastlines.

Alongside the creation of the data, Proteus Geo will also develop an online portal that will allow simple and fast access for customers from all over the world.

Richard Flemmings, director of Proteus Geo explains the advantages of providing affordable, off-the-shelf bathymetry data. He sees a lack of bathymetry data around the world due to the high costs, lead-time and health and safety issues involved in collecting this data using boats and aircraft. This project and service will be a practical step to break down the barriers to easily accessing the data in a standardised format.

Data from high-resolution imaging satellites can be created quickly and consistently over large areas and leveraged for many applications. This project presents a paradigm shift away from bathymetry data being delivered on a project-by-project basis, to data being available off-the-shelf through an instant online portal.

The project is being supported by ESA’s ARTES 20 programme (Advances Research in Telecommunications Systems) which responds to users’ needs using a combination of different space assets such as Earth Observation, navigation and telecommunications.