INFOMAR, Ireland’s national seabed mapping programme, has released its latest data update which encompasses essential enhancements including higher resolution data of the Irish continental shelf and offshore areas.
“This valuable update marks a significant stride in providing comprehensive and up-to-date information on Ireland’s seabed, crucial for various marine-related activities, including navigation, resource management, offshore renewable energy and environmental conservation,” said Thomas Furey, joint programme manager at the Marine Institute.
Key highlights of the latest INFOMAR data release include:
- 2m Survey Leg Data: The inclusion of newly derived 2m survey leg data offers increased availability for the Irish inshore, with planned regular updates during the coming months.
- Merged Surfaces (Bathymetry): INFOMAR now provides merged bathymetric surfaces at 5m, 10m and 25m resolutions for the Irish Shelf (0-200m water depth). 25m and 100m Resolution data is also available for the Irish Offshore (>200m water depth).
- Merged Surfaces (Backscatter): A single, homogenised backscatter surface at 40m resolution is available for the offshore, with 10m resolution available for inshore areas.
All bathymetric and backscatter datasets are now available in a three-star open standard format which improves user access across all GIS environments. All data is available for download or via a data request through INFOMAR’s data download portal.
INFOMAR has also updated various facets of its website to include new vector data, imagery, standard operating procedures and value-added products.
Sean Cullen, joint programme manager at the Geological Survey Ireland said: “INFOMAR [is] committed to providing accurate, accessible and up-to-date marine data to support Ireland’s maritime stakeholders. INFOMAR encourages users to explore and utilise this data for scientific research, maritime planning and decision-making processes.”