Data Sharing & Availability | CHP data
The MCA has been collecting multibeam bathymetry data through the UK Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP) since 2004. Many areas in UK waters have already been surveyed. This bathymetry data is freely available to all and can now be viewed in Google Earth. Google Earth is an ideal way of making CHP data easily available and accessible to all without the need for expensive or complicated pieces of software and systems.
CHP Bathy Atlas The CHP Bathy Atlas file is downloadable below along with a short user guide. When opened in Google Earth it shows the multibeam surveys split into 11 geographic regions and 4 routine re-survey (RRS) areas. This file will be updated as and when new survey areas are completed and when some of the legacy datasets have been converted and are ready to be added.
If you would like the bathymetry data in a different format (such as xyz files) please contact us or the UKHO (who validate and archive CHP datasets). The CHP collects more than just bathymetry data to ensure nautical charts and publications are up to date for navigation safety. Backscatter data is collected simultaneously with the bathymetry and is then mosaiced together to create geotiffs. This information is then used to undertake a seabed sampling regime in each survey area. Seabed samples are then passed on to the British Geological Survey. All the collected datasets are then used to create a seabed texture map which defines areas such as sand, gravel and rock. Please contact us if you would be interested in any of this data. The Civil Hydrography Programme: Overview | Routine resurvey | Survey specifications | Propose a hydrographic survey | Wrecks |
