Marine GIS: Geo-Information Systems in Ocean Sciences
These data are of different data types (in terms of Geo-Information-Systems) and provide information about single points (point), along vertical or horizontal transects (multi-point or line), for areas (polygon) surveyed by camera or multi-beam systems, or about temporal variations (time-series data).
Increasing ecological, economical and scientific interests in marine research (e.g. driven by “global change” and its possible effects on coastal zones or by the exploration of natural resources) as well as technological developments stimulated a considerable increase of geological, geochemical, biological or oceanographic data sets.
Within the last few years significant developments in marine technology were observed. New mobile, underwater platforms as AUVs (Autonomuos Underwater Vehicles), ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) or MOVEs (Wheel Driven Underwater Vehicles moving on the seafloor) were developed. Furthermore, new innovative sensors and sampling systems as in situ mass spectrometers, optical oxygen or nitrate sensors, micro-profilers as well as osmo-pumps or rhizon-samplers are available.
In combination with the sensors and samplers operated on research vessels these new technologies widens the scope of marine research considerably.
Consequently, a considerable amount of environmental data are obtained by water column and sediment sampling along vertical transects (e.g. hydro casts and sediment cores), in situ measurements at the seafloor, long-term observations at specific sites by moorings as well as by data acquisition and sampling during dives of ROVs, AUVs, or MOVEs.
Compared to the multitude of measured parameters and the quantity of information compiled during multidisciplinary research cruises, only few concepts and methods were developed for visualisation, distribution of data and thematic maps, efficient integration of the inhomogeneous data into existing database structures, management and spatial analysis of geodata.
For the visualization and analysis of such Geodata (measurements ultimately linked to the position of observation or sampling) Geo-Information Systems (GIS) are applied. The multitude of different data requires a data base management system - a Geodatabase - tailored for the needs of the specific research
