Shallow Survey 2015 Common Dataset Collection Has Begun
The first sonar manufacturer has arrived in Plymouth, UK, to start conducting bathymetric and backscatter surveys in Plymouth Sound and Wembury Bay. The aim of the common dataset activity (CDS) is to provide the international hydrographic community with a range of datasets, collected using the latest shallow water survey techniques, so that comparisons can be made and the merits of the different approaches judged.
To this end, areas in Plymouth Sound and Wembury Bay have been chosen that offer a good variety of depth, bottom type and sub-sea structures. In addition, a target detection test has been devised to ensure that fair comparisons can be made between the object detection capabilities of the systems.
A total of six sonar manufacturers from around the globe are taking part in the CDS. Spread throughout the summer months of July and August, each manufacturer has a five day slot on either a Royal Navy vessel or Plymouth University’s Falcon Spirit. We would like to take this opportunity to wish WASSP, EdgeTech, Teledyne Reson, Kongsberg Maritime, Kongsberg GeoAcoustics and R2Sonic all the best for their data collection and to thank Plymouth University, the Royal Navy, Applanix, Valeport and Geo-Spatial Survey Solutions for their efforts in making the CDS collection happen.
The CDS also includes a remote sensing activity which includes techniques such as Satellite Derived Bathymetry or Airborne acquisition methods such as Lidar. There is still time to partake in this activity – please contact [email protected] for more details.
Shallow Survey 2015 is the 7th International Conference on high resolution surveys in shallow water, and will be the second time it has been hosted by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the United Kingdom. Shallow Survey 2015 will attract over two hundred delegates from commercial and government organisations from around the world and will be an excellent forum for sharing innovation and experience. The host organisations of the MCA and the UKHO are particularly excited at the opportunity of partnering with Plymouth University, the principal conference sponsor.
