News in 2023
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Commission 4 attends two events
The Annual International Federation of Hydrographic Societies, 7-9
November 2023 Genoa, Italy
Map the Gaps Symposium, 6-8 November 2023, Monaco
The Annual International Federation of Hydrographic Societies
The Annual International Federation of Hydrographic Societies was
organized by the Italian Hydrographic Society.
Three members of the FIG Commission 4, Tanja Dufek from Germany,
Gordon
Johnston from UK and Denis Hains from Canada, attended the event and
promoted the FIG in the poster area. Tanja made a Technical
Presentation one “Exploration of hydrothermal venting sites and sulphide
deposits using deep-towed multi-beam echo sounder data”, while Gordon as
FIG member on the FIG/IHO/ICA International Board on Standards of
Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers
(IBSC) had strategically networked with many participants; Denis
presented a Keynote Address on “Citizen Hydrospatial Sciences”, on “The
Nippon Foundation-GEBCO, Seabed 2030”, and also chaired a technical
session.
This event is important to demonstrate a presence, visibility and impact
of the FIG-Commission 4 in the global hydrographic and Hydrospatial
community. For more info: https://hydro2023.com/
or reach Tanja, Gordon or Denis directly.
Map the Gaps Symposium - Monaco
FIG-Comm 4 Participant: Gordon Johnston, UK
This event marked the 120th anniversary of the commencement of GEBCO
(the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) and brought innovators,
the GEBCO Guiding Committee, the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030
project and various data and ocean experts together. The introduction by
IHO Director Luigi Sinapi (who is planning to attend the FIG WW2024 in
Accra), reminded the audience that less than 25% of the oceans have been
surveyed to basic modern standards. A really critical parameter that
must surely be rectified during this UN Decade of the Ocean.
The symposium featured many interesting and challenging speakers who
enlightened and informed the audience of the mapping progress,
challenges and opportunities related to ocean exploration. Highlights
included: Victor Vescovo of Five Deeps Expedition who was famously first
to visit each of the deepest trenches in each of the world’s oceans;
Fabien Cousteau whose family association with diving and ocean
exploration and preservation is legendary.
The event, at the historic Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, showcased
many developments in ocean exploration and reminded the audience of the
skills, innovation and professionalism of surveyors, cartographers and
explorers in the quest to map our oceans.
For more info:
https://www.mapthegaps.org/symposium or contact Gordon.
Gordon Johnston
December 2023
