Optimizing Bathymetric Data Collection Campaigns Using Processed Water Quality and Depth Data from Multispectral Satellite Imagery

Planning for Airborne Lidar Bathymetry (ALB) campaigns can benefit from knowledge of water clarity conditions of the intended survey area. Analysis of a historical time series of water clarity data to optimize Lidar penetration can assist to determine the most effective time for the survey campaign. This Water Quality (WQ) time series is extracted from satellite-derived data recorded by high resolution multispectral satellites. As the volume of spatio-temporal data produced from multiple sensors over a 30+year archived dataset can be overwhelming, a simple webapp is introduced to assist visualization and analysis. This article shows the methods of WQ analysis using high resolution satellite sensors, the webapp and how it benefits ALB survey campaigns, namely in the reduction of project risks and increased efficiency. Additionally, we highlight Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) technology as a supplemental tool to serve mapping and monitoring of shallow water zones globally. Like WQ, SDB requires scientific data analysis and a scalable and standardized IT infrastructure. We introduce SDB-Online as such a solution enabling the spatial mapping and monitoring of bathymetry and how it adds value to ALB and other survey methods.