Wellington Prepares for Shallow Survey Event
The Shallow Survey Conference 2012 will be held in Wellington, New Zealand, from 20th to 24th February 2012. It is the 6th International Conference on high-resolution surveys in shallow water. Approximately 200 delegates from around the world will be attending the conference; 80% are offshore attendees and 20% are New Zealand-based. Conference delegates are hydrographic and marine mapping experts, hazard risk assessors, habitat mapping experts, coastal engineers and environmental managers.
‘Shallow survey' refers to surveying in water depths of less than 30 metres, generally around a country's coastline, and with particular focus on ports and harbours. Accurate shallow surveys are needed where it is critical to record unseen hazards that may pose a danger to shipping, other commercial enterprises and recreational users. The conference focuses on current issues and latest developments associated with surveying in shallow water. Technical presenters are acknowledged worldwide as experts in their field of research and work.
For New Zealand, accurate shallow surveys are critical as close to 99% of its trade is carried by ship. This year's conference is hosted by LINZ (Land Information New Zealand), GNS Science and NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research).
The conference centrepiece is the ‘Common Dataset', a comparative study of data collected in a shallow water test area. For this conference that test area is Wellington Harbour, right outside the conference venue. Equipment manufacturers collect data using their latest technology and make that data available to conference delegates. Analysis of the Common Dataset highlights the relative merits and effectiveness of various shallow water surveying techniques and products. A session on the Common Dataset will be held from 1.00 to 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 21st February.
Keynote, session and workshop speakers/presenters come from all over the globe. New Zealand contributors are: Bryan Davy and Cornel de Ronde, GNS Science; Phil Barnes, Geoffroy Lamarche, Arne Pallentin and Judi Hewitt NIWA; Stuart Caie, Richard Murcott, Adam Greenland and Matt Amos, LINZ; Matt Wray, Royal New Zealand Navy and Alexandre Schimel, MetOcean. International speakers include Larry Mayer, University of New Hampshire; Xavier Lurton, Ifremer; Robert Ward, International Hydrographic Bureau; and Lindsay Gee, QPS.
