Ireland on track to complete ambitious sea mapping project by 2026
Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) and the Marine Institute (MI) aim to complete Ireland’s seabed mapping within two years, by 2026. Since 1996, GSI and MI have been conducting deep-water hydrographic and geophysical survey operations in Irish waters. This comprehensive effort will make Ireland the first country in the world to achieve such detailed mapping, providing crucial data for coastal and inshore developments.
Through GSI and MI’s Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Marine Resource (INFOMAR) project, Ireland’s seabed is being meticulously mapped to enhance navigation safety and identify suitable locations for offshore renewable energy installations.
The data gathered will also facilitate the protection of marine habitats and selection of cable and pipeline routes and aid in the delivery of national marine spatial planning. Furthermore, it supports local tourism by providing information on shipwrecks, detailed 3D maps, story maps and charts for coastal areas around Ireland.
INFOMAR is set to provide an update on this groundbreaking seabed mapping project at the Geopark Academy 2024, a two-day conference organized by the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. The conference will be held at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan on 25–26 May.
