Integrated Ocean & Coastal Mapping

Standard Ocean Mapping Protocol

The Standard Ocean Mapping Protocol (SOMP) is a standardized technical protocol for acquisition, processing, and archiving of ocean and coastal mapping data developed in support of Objective 2.1 Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (NOMEC 2020). It is built from existing standards and best practices developed by the ocean and coastal mapping community.

The goals of the SOMP are to facilitate the widest access to, use of, and integration of data; minimize duplication of effort; and maximize the efficient collection, processing, publishing, and stewardship of as much ocean and coastal mapping data as possible into publicly accessible archives, repositories, and databases.

The SOMP is intended to be a living document, so comments and feedback to improve it are always welcome at iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov. The Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IWG-OCM) will also formally update the SOMP every five years to take advantage of innovative new technologies and best practices as they arise.

Below are brief overviews of the featured Chapters:

Introduction: Pursuant to Objective 2.1 of the Strategy and Implementation Plan in the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone, this document is a standardized technical protocol for acquisition, processing, and archiving of ocean and coastal mapping data (NOMEC, 2020). The goals of the document are to facilitate the widest access to, use of, and integration of data; minimize duplication of effort; and maximize the efficient collection, processing, publishing, and stewardship of as much ocean and coastal mapping data as possible into publicly accessible archives, repositories, and databases. National data standards and best practices will be used, as required by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (FGDC, 2018).

Data Management covers methods for effective data management and stewardship, metadata records, and archive techniques, with the intent of promoting data accessibility and utility by a broad spectrum of users, including the public.

Bathymetry focuses on procedures for the collection, processing, and delivery of bathymetric data, such as that acquired by sonar systems (multibeam, single beam, phase-discriminating) and light detection and ranging (lidar) systems. This chapter summarizes best practices for system setup, calibration, and maintenance; data resolution, range, and survey coverage; positioning and spatial reference; sound speed correction; tides and water levels; quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) techniques, accuracy, and uncertainty; data processing and handling; and general gridded data specifications.

Seabed and Lakebed Backscatter covers standard backscatter acquisition and processing methods, acoustic signal corrections, and image processing steps. This chapter describes backscatter, its existing challenges in data usage, protocols to apply, and information that should be documented during surveying and processing. The chapter advocates the Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping (GeoHab) Backscatter Working Group (BSWG) publication Backscatter Measurements by Seafloor-Mapping Sonar: Guidelines and Recommendations (Lurton and Lamarche, 2015) as best practices.

Water Column Sonar focuses on the collection, processing, and delivery of raw and interpreted backscatter from single beam echosounders (SBES) and multibeam echosounders (MBES). This chapter summarizes best practices for system configuration and calibration; operating frequencies and depth ranges; QA/QC techniques; analysis and interpretation of backscatter and derived products; and file formats.

Side Scan Sonar concentrates on the collection, processing, and delivery of side scan sonar data. This chapter summarizes best practices for system configuration and calibration; general data acquisition parameters (e.g., range scales, frequencies, ping rates, survey speed); data resolution and survey coverage; positioning and spatial reference; target detection; QA/QC techniques, accuracy, and uncertainty; and data processing, mosaic generation, and derivation of products.

Sub-bottom Profiling covers common system types and describes the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the use of single-channel acoustic systems that commonly operate in the 0.2 to 24 kilohertz (kHz) frequency range to remotely image seafloor surface morphology and near-surface stratigraphy. Topics include practical survey design; conventional acquisition procedures and parameters; data resolution; QA/QC techniques; processing protocols; data formats; and publication of sub-surface imaging data.

Magnetometry focuses on general magnetic theory as it relates to anomaly detectability; factors that influence data quality; instrument selection, configuration, testing, and calibration; data sensitivity and coverage specifications; resolution/line spacing based on survey objectives; and data validation.

Introduction

Chapter 1: Data Management

Chapter 2: Bathymetry

Chapter 3: Seabed and Lakebed Backscatter

Chapter 4: Water Column Sonar

Chapter 5: Side Scan Sonar

Chapter 6: Sub-bottom Profiling

Chapter 7: Magnetometry

Appendix A - Applicable Standards

Appendix B - Data Standard | Data Structure