Implementation of navigation surface

The US Navy's Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) has developed bathymetric surfaces from multi-beam data in support of deep-water navy requirements. The emerging abilities to gather coastal soundings, imagery-derived bathymetry, field collection from Navy assets and sensors, LiDAR, is providing a unique opportunity for NAVOCEANO to implement a global bottom model. This model will serve as a core capability to integrate all bathymetric production within the office, in addition to serving as the basis for operational mission-planning and environmental tactical decision aids. The NAVOCEANO hydrographic/bathymetric production process is being adjusted to follow logical data flow. The data, after collection, will be edited at sea and then pushed to NAVOCEANO via C-band transmission. The database of surfaces will retain the best resolution data or source surfaces for future product creation.