Terradepth reaches IHO Special Order benchmark in seabed mapping precision
Using advanced autonomous underwater vehicle technology, seabed information company Terradepth has shown that the highest levels of hydrographic accuracy no longer require large, costly survey operations. The company successfully completed an IHO S-44 Special Order survey, meeting one of the most demanding international standards for seabed mapping precision.
“This milestone marks a tide-shifting moment for the hydrographic community, proving that Terradepth AUV-based surveys meet the most rigorous seabed mapping specifications,” said Joe Wolfel, CEO and co-founder of Terradepth. “It is a benchmark traditionally reserved for large, crewed survey vessels and towed sonar systems. With the team’s achievement, we hope the offshore community sees the opportunities inherent in high-specification autonomous hydrography.”
Fully autonomous approach
The survey took place in approximately 80 metres of water, 60 miles offshore in the Gulf of America, a region affected by hurricanes and subsea infrastructure development. Despite the absence of local tide stations or buoys, European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellite radar was used to correct for tidal variations, demonstrating a fully autonomous and low-logistics survey approach.
The IHO S-44 Special Order standard relates to areas where underkeel clearance is critical. Therefore, 100% feature search and 100% bathymetric coverage are required, and the size of the features to be detected by this search is more demanding than lower IHO orders.
As part of its delivery model, seabed information company Terradepth processed and distributed survey results through Absolute Ocean, its secure, cloud-native ocean data platform. This streamlined approach ensured efficient execution and near-instant access to results, enabling stakeholders to conduct quality assurance, quality control, visualization and decision-making from anywhere. Leveraging autonomous operations, Terradepth also reduces the need for surface support, cutting carbon emissions, operational costs and personnel risk while maintaining industry-leading data quality.
Achieving the IHO Special Order standard carries wide-ranging implications across multiple sectors. AUV-enabled surveys provide critical insight into seabed characteristics, infrastructure integrity and the condition of cables and foundations at all depths. In addition, Terradepth’s data quality meets National Marine Fisheries Service permitting exemptions and most BOEM requirements. For government agencies and offshore energy operators, this certification affirms the operational readiness of Terradepth’s AUV-collected data and processed information.
