Benefits of Maritime Information Infrastructure is Key Message in London and Rio

Understanding and implementing effective data management principles and processes to improve operational and business efficiencies was the key message delivered by OceanWise in London and Rio de Janeiro during November.  In each case, the message was backed up by papers from industry leaders, case studies by sector practitioners and discussion amongst delegates. 

Schematic of a Typical Maritime Information Infrastructure (Source: OceanWise)

Over fifty people from across the maritime sector, including ports, engineering and environmental consultants, energy companies and government, attended a Maritime Workshop in London hosted by GIS vendor, Cadcorp, and marine data management specialist, OceanWise.  Presentations included the UK’s Ports Policy: A Framework for Future Development and Management by Philip Grindrod from the Department for Transport and Marine Spatial Planning Developments in England and Wales by Alan Storer from Welsh Government.  Both presentations highlighted the importance of fit for purpose data and information, robustly managed and easily accessible, to deliver successful outcomes.  This message was central to Dr Anne Kemp’s (Atkins Ltd) presentation on how ‘Building Information Modelling’ or BIM is now a key requirement for all Government infrastructure projects. 

Also at the Workshop, Cadcorp and OceanWise demonstrated how location, GIS and OceanWise’s marine data management software can be used to make the sharing of spatial data between people and between systems much easier.  Dr Mike Osborne then explained how these tools can be used to deliver efficiencies by setting up a ‘Maritime Information Infrastructure’ using open standards and systems (Figure 1).  Use cases included implementations of these systems within the Port of Southampton and at Clydeport by Tom Broomfield and Douglas Hoad, respectively, and by Subsea Asset Location Technology by Lisa Symes.   Discussion centred on the many primarily organisational challenges that still exist and how, in practical terms, these can be overcome, utilising the expertise available.

The message then travelled to the southern hemisphere where OceanWise delivered the first course to be held by the South West Atlantic Hydrographic Commission on 'Marine Data Management, Database Design and Marine SDI'.  This time the message was delivered with the help of Canadian GIS specialist, Caris. 

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Return to East Asia for Marine SDI Course

OceanWise was invited to East Asia for a second time to deliver a course on 'Marine Data Management, Database Design and Marine SDI'.  The invitation by the East Asian Hydrographic Commission (EAHC) follows the successful delivery of a similar course in Thailand in 2011.  The course was again supported by Caris, who undertook the practical elements of the course using the Caris range of Hydrographic Production and Marine SDI software.

The course took place in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and was hosted by the Korean Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration (KHOA) at Incheon from
5 - 9 November 2012.  Delegates came from countries throughout the East Asian region including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and The Philippines.

KHOA Director General Suk-Hyun Kim and Attendees of the MSDI Course, South Korea

Feedback from delegates was excellent, demonstrating the importance of good data management practices, not just to support emerging uses of hydrographic and oceanographic data, but also as a critical foundation for all hydrographic office activities. With continuing support, there is a much better chance of the International Hydrographic Organisation’s (IHO’s) general, and the MSDI Working Group’s specific aims being met through more effective data management, database design and organisational efficiency.

About OceanWise

OceanWise Ltd is an independent company specialising in all aspects of marine environmental data acquisition, data and knowledge management and GIS.   OceanWise personnel have been pioneering the development of marine data and software products for over 15 years, including at the UK Hydrographic Office.  OceanWise undertakes capacity building courses in the domain of marine data management, GIS and SDI in the UK and internationally.  In addition, OceanWise offers:

• Digital Marine Mapping: Raster Charts, Marine Themes and Digital Elevation Model
• Environmental Data Management and Publishing (Ocean Database and Port-Log.net)
• Sector Specific Productivity Tools (Maritime Toolbar and Workflow Extensions)
• GIS and Marine Data Acquisition, Management and Dissemination Advice and Training.

For more information on how OceanWise can improve your environmental and spatial data management capacity and capabilities, please contact Mr John Pepper, Marketing Director, on john.pepper@oceanwise.eu or visit the OceanWise website at www.oceanwise.eu.

About Caris

CARIS solutions deliver cutting-edge bathymetric innovations, seamless feature data management, product extraction and distribution to support a diverse product range. For more information, please contact Andy Hoggarth Marketing and Sales Manager on andrew.hoggarth@caris.com or visit the Caris website at www.caris.com.

The publication of AGI member press releases is a member service. The AGI neither approves or endorses the contents of member's press releases, nor makes any assurance of their factual accuracy.

OceanWise Marine Themes and Raster Charts Go Global

Independent marine data management and publishing specialist, OceanWise Ltd, has established off-the-shelf marine mapping datasets that meet the needs of the most demanding applications.  These datasets include Raster Charts, Marine Themes and the recently released Marine Themes DEM.  Offering exceptional value, OceanWise mapping, data management and GIS products are being used widely in the UK and Ireland across central and local Government, NGOs and the commercial sector.

OceanWise is now pleased to announce that its marine mapping is now available globally from established UK based digital mapping distributors, FIND Mapping and emapsite.com as well as from local in-country distributors.  The data is provided for immediate download in open GIS formats under licence or as subscription based Web Mapping and Feature Services (OGC WMS and WFS).  Please see the OceanWise website for details. 

OceanWise’s MD, Dr Mike Osborne, who has pioneered the development of marine GIS, Marine SDI and marine mapping for over 12 years explains, “Hydrographic Offices and other marine agency data is required to support numerous offshore applications from environment protection to economic development.  In the past many organisations have been unwilling to make this data available in a form that can be used readily in GIS or on the Web.  We have been working closely with numerous Hydrographic Offices worldwide to build the necessary understanding and now have a portfolio of agreements that provide good coverage across Europe and farther afield.  We will continue to support and work with our partners and stakeholders to make truly global marine datasets available for use in GIS at the earliest opportunity, and at all scale levels”.  

OceanWise Marine Themes and Raster Charts Global Datasets offer the following key advantages:

1. Comprehensive national and international coverage available from on-line sources
2. Supports HO’s wider and long-term publication aims without adding to their costs
3. Commonly required reference datasets supplied in vector, raster and grid formats
4. Scale independent layers provide authoritative coverage when and where required
5. Symbology and other supporting information reduce GIS project start up times
6. Raster Charts, Marine Themes and Marine Themes DEM combine to provide the most comprehensive and advance marine mapping data available for GIS and Web GIS.

OceanWise and its distributors are able to combine Marine Themes and Raster Charts with data from other national and international agencies to provide a complete marine geospatial data solution.  Projects are charged by value of the service and not by applying excessive product and licence fees.    

About OceanWise

OceanWise Ltd is an independent company specialising in all aspects of marine environmental data acquisition, data and knowledge management and GIS.   OceanWise personnel have been pioneering the development of marine data products for over 12 years, first at Metoc then at SeaZone, and at the UK Hydrographic Office.  This experience has culminated in the design and development of the advanced Marine Themes vector and modelled datasets.  In addition to Digital Marine Mapping, OceanWise offers:

• Environmental Data Management and Publishing (Ocean Database and Port-Log.net)
• GIS and Marine Data Acquisition, Management and Dissemination Advice and Training
• Sector Specific Productivity Tools (Maritime Toolbar and Workflow Extensions)

The publication of AGI member press releases is a member service. The AGI neither approves or endorses the contents of member's press releases, nor makes any assurance of their factual accuracy.

OceanWise Launches Seabed Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

Independent marine data management and publishing specialist, OceanWise Ltd, has established off-the-shelf marine mapping datasets that meet the needs of the most demanding applications.  These datasets include Raster Charts and the highly acclaimed vector dataset, Marine Themes.  Both are available on-line for immediate download from established digital mapping providers, emapsite.com and FIND Mapping.  Offering exceptional value, OceanWise mapping and data management products are being used widely across central and local Government, NGOs and the commercial sector.

To accompany the above datasets, OceanWise has created Marine Themes DEM, a seabed digital elevation model (DEM) at 1 and 6 arc seconds utilising single and multi-beam hydrographic survey data from the UK Hydrographic Office and other agencies.  Data derived from Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) is used to provide additional coverage. 

OceanWise Marine Themes DEM offers the following key advantages:

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SDI Capacity Building for North Indian Ocean Hydrographic Commission

20th April 2012 - The importance of the theoretical and practical aspects of hydrographic database design and management to support the development of marine, national and regional spatial data infrastructures (SDI) was again demonstrated by delegates attending the second in a series of capacity building courses, held 26-30 March 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

The course was hosted by the Sri Lankan National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) and delivered by marine data and GIS experts OceanWise and Caris.  The course was supported financially by the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO).  Delegates came from countries throughout the North Indian Ocean, and Southern Africa and Islands regions, including Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.     

The course implements, in a practical manner, the outputs of IHO Marine SDI Working Group, described in the publication of a Guidance Note on Marine SDI (IHO C-17), downloadable from the IHO website.  Recommendations included that the IHO supports improvements in understanding and capability of hydrographic offices in this emerging topic through its capacity building programme.  Other recommendations included that SDI become a standing item on the agendas of Regional Hydrographic Commissions.  These recommendations were accepted and a programme of work, to be delivered via IHO Member States, put in place.

Feedback from delegates was excellent, demonstrating the importance of good data management practices, not just to support emerging uses of hydrographic and oceanographic data, but also as a critical foundation for all hydrographic office activities. With continuing support, there is a much better chance of the IHO’s general, and the MSDI Working Group’s specific aims being met through more effective data management, database design and organisational efficiency.  The authors wish to thank NARA and all delegates for their support and tremendous hard work during the course, which contributed immensely to its success.            

About OceanWise Limited

OceanWise Limited is an independent company specialising in all aspects of marine environmental data acquisition, data and knowledge management and GIS.  For more information, please contact John Pepper, Marketing Director, on john.pepper@oceanwise.eu or visit the OceanWise website at www.oceanwise.eu.

About CARIS

CARIS solutions deliver cutting-edge bathymetric innovations, seamless feature data management, product extraction and distribution to support a diverse product range.  For more information, please contact Andy Hoggarth Marketing and Sales Manager on andrew.hoggarth@caris.com or visit the Caris website at www.caris.com.

The publication of AGI member press releases is a member service. The AGI neither approves or endorses the contents of member's press releases, nor makes any assurance of their factual accuracy.