harmonizing the collection, sharing, and use of lake floor data for the great lakes and their connecting channels
The Great Lakes Bottom Mapping Working Group (BMWG) was formed in 2016 to facilitate the collection, harmonization, sharing, and use of continuous high-resolution maps and data about Great Lakes bathymetry, habitat, maritime cultural resources, and biology.
The working group is a collaborative effort to promote communication and collaboration among data providers and data users, facilitate access to data, promote use of technical standards for mapping and habitat classification, and prioritize regional mapping needs.
The working group consists of agencies, organizations and citizens with an interest in some aspect of lake bottom environment. Any individual or organization can participate simply by signing up.
News
Lakebed 2030 conference highlights mapping progress in 2022
The conference featured demos by leading survey technology companies, including Maritime Robotics, which used an autonomous mapping platform to map a shipwreck 1 km away
Building the Great Map brings Lakebed 2030 community together in Chicago
On Wednesday, April 27, at Glosapalooza in Chicago, 75 participants gathered at the Chicago Yacht Club on the shores of Lake Michigan and online to
Just Published: “Costs and Approaches for Mapping the Great Lakes”
In 2020, we asked three experienced survey companies “What will it take to map the Great Lakes at high-density?”
Using different strategies and technologies, XOCEAN, Orange Force Marine Ltd., and Fugro reported on technologies that could be used to fill gaps, laid out timelines, and estimated the overall cost.
We discovered that, with today’s emerging scanning technologies, with the proper funding, a high-density map of our lakebed is well within grasp.
Using their findings, we just published our Costs and Approaches for Mapping the Great Lakes report.
Read the report.
Prioritization Analysis helps answer “What new bottom data do we need most?”
By Xiaofan Zhang, GLOS Cyberinfrastructure Data Analyst Intern in 2021 In order to better understand the areas of greatest need for bathymetric mapping, GLOS recently
Events
Lakebed 2030 Conference
Traverse City, MI and Virtual
Sept. 28-30, 2022
The objective of the Lakebed 2030 conference is to bring together science and research, policy, government, and industry professionals to:
- Focus on high-resolution mapping and bathymetry data in the Great lakes.
- Develop a strategy to catalog new and existing lake bed information for shared use.
- Share the latest technology advancements with the Great Lakes community.
Interested in Finding Out More?
Subscribe to the GLBMWG Newsletter
Subscribe to keep up on recent developments in Great Lakes bottom mapping, receive updates on new data sets, and learn about how you can get involved!
Contact the Bottom Mapping Working Group!
It is our goal to maintain data services and information regarding up-to-date bathymetry, sonar data, and derived products. If you have new research, resources, or communications relevant to Great Lakes bottom mapping you’d like to share, please contact us.
