Please find attached a letter to your attention :
INVITATION TO REVIEW DRAFT IHO GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON CROWDSOURCED
BATHYMETRY
Yours sincerely
IHO
--
Mireille Mollet
Registrar/Communications
International Hydrographic Organization
BP 445, 98011 Monaco
Tel : 00377 93 10 81 36
Fax : 00377 93 10 81 40
E-mail:
[email protected]
INVITATION TO REVIEW DRAFT IHO GUID ANCE DOCUMENT ON CROWDSOURCED BATHYMETRY IHO Member States Accredited Observer Organizations Expert Contributors (see Distribution List for full details) 11 April 2017 1. At the 5 th Extraordinary International Hydrographic Conference (EIHC-5) , held in October 2014, discussions took place on ways to improve the current lack of bathymetric knowledge of many parts of the world’s seas, oceans and waterways. EIHC-5 agreed on the need to explore sources of bathymetric data outside traditional observations - particularly in support of defining a baseline global bathymetric model for the many non-navigational uses for bathymetry that are now emerging. This resulted in the establishment of a crowdsourced bathymetry (CSB) working group (CSBWG) that was tasked to provide guidance on how the IHO could encourage and promote crowdsourcing by vessels and craft whilst on passage using standard fitted equipment . 2. The CSBWG, comprising representatives from Hydrographic Offices, academia, and industry has developed an initial draft for a guidance docume nt that sets out the key issues to be taken in to account by those considering CSB – both from a collector’s and a user’s perspective . The guidance document is intended to provide general advice and information for those that may be considering collecting or using crowdsourced bathymetry. It is not intended to be either prescriptive or authoritative, but rather to alert those with an interest in CSB of a wide range of considerations they may wish to make as part of any involvement in CSB. 3. The draft CSB guidance document is now available on the IHO website at HYPERLINK "https://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=635&Itemid=988&lang=en" https://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=635&Itemid=988&lang=en . 4. Addressees are invited to review the initial draft of the guidance document and submit their comments to the Chair of the CSBWG at this address: HYPERLINK "mailto:
[email protected] "
[email protected] . 5. Addressees are also encouraged to inform any other organizations , entities or individuals that may have an interest in reviewing and commenting on the draft guidance document . 6 . Input is requested as soon as possible and before mid- May 2017 , in order that the CSBWG can consider any responses prior to the submission of a first draft to the IRCC9 meeting in Paramaribo, Suriname , 12-14 June 2017 . This will be followed by a stakeholder review and consultation period before returning a final draft to the IHO for approval in 2018. Yours faithfully , Jennifer Jencks Chair , CSB WG Distribution List IHO Member States Arctic Expeditionary Cruise Operators (AECO) Baltic and International Marine Council (BIMCO) Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Fugro Pelagos INTERFERRY International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) International Cable Protection Committee International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations (IFSMA) International Harbour Masters’ Association (IHMA) International Parcel Tankers Association (IPTA) International Research Ship Operators (IRSO) International Sailing Federation (ISAF) International Ship Managers' Association ( InterManager ) Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) Olex AS Professional Yachting Association (PYA) SevenCs TeamSurv The Nautical Institute