Working with bathymetry
Bathymetry data and terrestrial elevation data share some fundamental similarities, both representing the topography of a surface. While terrestrial data maps the contours of Earth’s land surfaces, bathymetry data plunges beneath the waves to depict the underwater terrain, capturing the depth and shapes of ocean floors, lake beds, and river channels. Both types of data are critical for various applications, from navigation and flood modeling to environmental studies and urban planning. However, the differences in the mediums they represent—air for terrestrial and water for bathymetry—impose unique challenges in data collection and interpretation.
As we’ve seen, terrestrial data is often collected using LiDAR technology, which employs lasers to send out pulses of light that bounce off the ground and other objects. By measuring the time it takes for the light to return, the distance to the surface can be calculated, resulting in...