Gilbert, S., Murawski, S.A., Luther, M.E., Silverman, A., Hommeyer, M., Vistocci, R., Chernoch, S. Clark, H., Grasty, S., and Erickson, K. 2025. Marine Technology Journal, 59:51-61. https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.59.2.9
Abstract: Efficient and effective mapping of bathymetry in coastal regions requires sustained effort from a diverse set of stakeholders. These contributors include federal and state organizations, industry, and private citizens. A research priority of the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies, an academic-government mapping center funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey, is to address the complexities of collecting bathymetry in shallow water areas that are consistently in flux. This paper discusses the development of a regional crowdsourced bathymetry (CSB) program in the Tampa Bay region of Florida that capitalizes on the broadly termed boating “crowd” to harvest opportunistic depth sounding data from participating vessels and return those data to participants via a transparent and accessible process. One of the key ingredients in making a CSB program possible and sustainable is the development and maintenance of a stakeholder engagement program. Here, we discuss the makeup of Tampa Bay’s “crowd,” our current processes and structure, and plans to expand this regional CSB effort. The goal of this pilot project is to realize a fully developed, operational, and transferable CSB program based on the Tampa Bay region.
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