Seascape Alaska

Formed in April 2021, Seascape Alaska is a regional mapping campaign in support of the NOMEC Strategy. Its tagline is “working together to understand the depths of Alaska's vast seascape,” and its central purpose is to coordinate mapping efforts to completely map U.S. waters off of Alaska deeper than 40m by 2030 and waters shallower than 40m by 2040. For more information, see the fact sheet and story map.

Contributing to the campaign goals, in 2023, NOAA and partners conducted a series of telepresence-enabled ocean exploration expeditions, called the Seascape Alaska expeditions, on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to improve knowledge about unexplored and poorly understood deepwater areas offshore Alaska, with a particular focus on the Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, and Aleutian Trench.

Related IWG Activities

The IWG hosted the inaugural Alaska Coastal Mapping Summit in June 2016. For more information on this summit, please contact us. Between 2016 and 2021, three more mapping summits have been held. For more information on those events and summary documents, please visit https://agc-coastal-soa-dnr.hub.arcgis.com/pages/aksummit.

Links to Regional Mapping Resources

Implementation Plan for the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy, June 2022

A Strategy for Mapping the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska, June 2020

Alaska Mapping Executive Committee

The Alaska Mapping Executive Committee (AMEC) coordinates the modernization of critical Alaska map layers. Executives from fifteen federal agencies and Departments and the State meet twice annually to prioritize mapping objectives. AMEC currently promotes acquisition of several digital map layers including Imagery, Elevation, Terrestrial Hydrography, Coastal Shorelines and Bathymetry, and GRAV-D.

Alaska Geospatial Council

The Alaska Geospatial Council (AGC) provides inter-agency coordination between local, state, federal, tribal, academic and private organizations on geospatial initiatives. Through effective collaboration the council aims to improve the availability and quality of geospatial information and ensure it is publicly available to support data driven decisions. The AGC also hosts the Coastal & Ocean Technical Working Group, which strives to align coastal and ocean mapping missions with Alaska's people and programs.

Alaska Ocean Observing System

The mission of AOOS is to address regional and national needs for ocean information, gather specific data on key coastal and ocean variables, and ensure timely and sustained dissemination and availability of these data.

Links to Regional Mapping Resources

PacIOOS Voyager

PacIOOS Voyager is a free, interactive, online mapping experience. Explore observations, forecasts, and historical ocean data from the Pacific Islands region. View, combine, save, and download your choices.

Ocean Exploration Trust

Several mapping expeditions by the Exploration Vessel Nautilus were conducted in 2018, 2019, and 2021. More work is planned for 2022.

Links to Regional Mapping Resources

Expanding Pacific Exploration and Research (EXPRESS)

EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope. For more information, see https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pcmsc/science/express-expanding-pacific-research-and-exploration-submerged-systems?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects.

West Coast Ocean Alliance

The West Coast Ocean Alliance is a regional partnership focused on enhanced management and coordination for the ocean along the West Coast of the U.S.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

MBARI's mission is to achieve and maintain a position as a world center for advanced research and education in ocean science and technology.

Ocean Exploration Trust

Several West Coast mapping expeditions by the Exploration Vessel Nautilus were conducted between 2015 and 2021. For more information, visit https://nautiluslive.org/expedition.

Links to Regional Mapping Resources

Lakebed2030 Initiative

With less than 15% of the Great Lakes having high-density maps, the Lakebed2030 Initiative includes but is not limited to working to build and test new supporting technologies, map all 5 Great Lakes in high-density detail, and educate to inspire innovation and community action.

Great Lakes Bottom Mapping Working Group

The Great Lakes Bottom Mapping Working Group (BMWG) facilitates the collection, harmonization, sharing, and use of continuous high-resolution maps and data about Great Lakes bathymetry, habitat, maritime cultural resources, and biology.

Lakebed 2030 TechSurge

Inspired by the Seabed 2030 initiative, the Marine Technology Society Great Lakes Section and Northwestern Michigan College host annual TechSurge events in the Fall to focus on marine mapping and observation data; develop a strategy to catalog new and existing lakebed information; and share the latest technology developments and advance business development.

Links to Regional Mapping Resources

Atlantic Seafloor Partnership for Integrated Research and Exploration (ASPIRE)

ASPIRE, is a major multi-year, multi-national collaborative ocean exploration field program focused on raising collective knowledge and understanding of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Northeast Regional Ocean Council

The Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) is a state and federal partnership that facilitates the New England states, federal agencies, regional organizations, and other interested regional groups in addressing ocean and coastal issues that benefit from a regional response.

Mid-Atlantic Governors' Agreement on Ocean Conservation

Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean is a partnership of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia to enhance the vitality of the region's ocean ecosystem and economy.

Links to Regional Mapping Resources

Atlantic Seafloor Partnership for Integrated Research and Exploration (ASPIRE)

ASPIRE, is a major multi-year, multi-national collaborative ocean exploration field program focused on raising collective knowledge and understanding of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Mid-Atlantic Governors' Agreement on Ocean Conservation

Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean is a partnership of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia to enhance the vitality of the region's ocean ecosystem and economy.

Links to Regional Mapping Resources

Gulf of Mexico Alliance

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is a Regional Ocean Partnership working to sustain the resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida Coastal Mapping Program

The Florida Coastal Mapping Program (FCMaP) is an initiative between Federal and Florida State agencies and institutions to coordinate and facilitate the collection and accessibility of Florida coastal seafloor data in order to fill priority areas and gaps.