Advances in Ocean Mapping and Hydrospatial Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The field of ocean mapping and hydrospatial applications has seen rapid advancements driven by cutting-edge technologies, the adoption of the IHO S-100 framework, and the growing need for comprehensive marine management. As human activities expand in coastal and deep-sea regions, accurate and comprehensive ocean mapping has become essential across diverse applications, including environmental protection, resource management, infrastructure development, and scientific exploration. These advancements are vital to sustainable ocean management, where data accuracy and accessibility are paramount.

Integrating hydrospatial data with geospatial applications provides a transformative approach to addressing complex challenges in marine science, policy, and engineering. By organizing vast, multidimensional marine datasets into spatially intelligent systems, hydrospatial methods enhance decision-making in areas such as marine spatial planning, ecosystem monitoring, and climate resilience. The S-100 framework, with its standardized model for marine data exchange, facilitates interoperability and precision, enabling the seamless integration of diverse datasets. This shift towards a hydrospatial perspective broadens traditional hydrography, aligning ocean mapping with the demand for real-time, data-informed insights into marine and coastal environments.

This Special Issue on ‘Advances in Ocean Mapping and Hydrospatial Applications’ aims to capture these innovations and provide a platform for sharing the latest research, tools, and applications driving the future of ocean mapping. We invite original research, case studies, technical notes, and reviews on topics including, but not limited to:

• Innovative techniques for seafloor mapping and underwater feature detection.
• Integration of remote sensing, autonomous vehicles, and multi-sensor data in hydrography.
• Advances in multibeam, single beam, and side-scan sonar applications.
• Data processing algorithms for improving spatial resolution and accuracy.
• Hydrospatial analysis in marine spatial planning and resource management.
• Modeling and visualization of bathymetric, backscatter, and water column data.
• Standards and best practices in hydrographic surveying.
• Applications of machine learning and AI in hydrography.
• Real-time data acquisition for hydrographic and oceanographic purposes.
• Applications of the S-100 framework, including its role in e-navigation, data harmonization, and interoperability across marine systems and stakeholders.
• Case studies on hydrospatial solutions in policy and marine management.

Through this Special Issue, we aim to showcase contributions that advance the field of ocean mapping and hydrospatial applications, supporting sustainable marine management and enhanced scientific and environmental insights.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Anand Hiroji
Dr. Ian Church
Dr. Giuseppe Masetti
Guest Editors

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