Issue link: https://resources.esri.ca/i/732711
Challenge In consultation with academic and commercial partners involved in marine science across North America, the Institute identified a human resources gap among skilled mapping professionals. While existing educational programs provide the technical training required for land mapping and remote sensing, the oil and gas sector and other fields that rely on ocean mapping did not have the benefit of a steady stream of graduates with technical experience in mapping the sea. Ocean mapping has distinctive requirements that set it apart from other types of mapping. It involves collecting and analyzing data from the ocean's surface, subsurface, floor and the water column as a whole. The Institute found that in many cases, scientists and industry personnel learn ocean mapping skills when already on the job to gain access to the data they need, which may not be collected in the most efficient and accurate manner. These tasks also take away from their primary responsibilities of conducting research or managing operations. There was a clear demand for professionals with this specific type of technical training, but no educational pathway besides graduate studies were available that produced the skills required to meet ocean industries' needs. GIS at the core of a world-leading ocean mapping program Located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the Fisheries and Marine Institute at Memorial University of Newfoundland is recognized as one of the world's leading centres of marine education and applied research. The Institute works closely with commercial and government partners to train students and perform research that responds directly to the needs of ocean industries. In 2010, the Institute established an undergraduate ocean mapping program with an emphasis on geographic information systems (GIS), which equips students to fill essential roles both at sea and on land as specially trained technical staff. 1 Esri Canada | Memorial University of Newfoundland answers the call for GIS-savvy ocean mapping specialists Contour lines were then created multibeam data. Residual were calculated based on the between points on the two results were taken into excel to calculate the total at specific depths. Gecho II Contou r line RMS Error 30 m 10.89 40 m 6.05 50 m 14.98 60 m 3.81 70 m 3.23 80 m 6.25 90 m 0.72 68%, and 95% uncertainty. assumption that correct data set with Figure 5: Calculated " Esri's ArcGIS software and its components have been one of the leading tools used in the Ocean Mapping program. With such a diverse course load, I have used ArcGIS in almost every class offered in the program to teach me geospatial processing. ArcGIS has made me a more efficient geospatial analyst." Brian Carroll Student Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland