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Crowdsourced Bathymetry

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 01, 2026 at 09:07 AM | Dataset Last Updated: January 01, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Crowdsourced bathymetry (CSB) is the collection and sharing of depth measurements from vessels, using standard navigation instruments, while engaged in routine maritime operations. Crowdsourcing depth data provides an unprecedented opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and detailed map of the ocean floor. By involving a wide range of contributors, including research vessels, autonomous underwater vehicles, and recreational sailors, vast areas of coastal waters and the ocean can be covered. This collaborative approach generates improved bathymetric maps that unlock valuable insights into marine environments, facilitating scientific discoveries with far-reaching implications for conservation, resource management and our overall understanding of the world's oceans. Data consist of the raw (as collected) point-depth files, and may also include processed or edited versions of the data and/or metadata. The Crowdsourced Bathymetry archive provides data that span the globe and are discoverable and accessible via map interface or API search options.

Resources

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  • Crowdsourced Bathymetry

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  • International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Crowdsourced Bathymetry (CSB) Initiative

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  • Crowdsourced Bathymetry Data Viewer

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  • Crowdsourced Bathymetry S3 Bucket and Point Store API

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  • Crowdsourced Bathymetry API

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  • GCMD Keyword Forum Page

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  • NCEI Contact Information

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Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Abyssal Hills/Plains Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Bathymetry Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Continental Margins Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Fracture Zones Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Ocean Plateaus/Ridges Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Seafloor Topography Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Seamounts Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Submarine Canyons

Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel non-public
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:ncei.info@noaa.gov"
}
describedByType application/octet-steam
description Crowdsourced bathymetry (CSB) is the collection and sharing of depth measurements from vessels, using standard navigation instruments, while engaged in routine maritime operations. Crowdsourcing depth data provides an unprecedented opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and detailed map of the ocean floor. By involving a wide range of contributors, including research vessels, autonomous underwater vehicles, and recreational sailors, vast areas of coastal waters and the ocean can be covered. This collaborative approach generates improved bathymetric maps that unlock valuable insights into marine environments, facilitating scientific discoveries with far-reaching implications for conservation, resource management and our overall understanding of the world's oceans. Data consist of the raw (as collected) point-depth files, and may also include processed or edited versions of the data and/or metadata. The Crowdsourced Bathymetry archive provides data that span the globe and are discoverable and accessible via map interface or API search options.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Crowdsourced Bathymetry",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/iho-data-centre-digital-bathymetry",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Information about and access to Crowdsourced Bathymetry (CSB) data",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Crowdsourced Bathymetry (CSB) Initiative",
    "accessURL": "https://iho.int/en/crowdsourced-bathymetry",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Information about the Crowdsourced Bathymetry (CSB) initiative",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Crowdsourced Bathymetry Data Viewer",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/iho_dcdb/?layers=csb",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Map service to facilitate discovery and access of bathymetry data",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Crowdsourced Bathymetry S3 Bucket and Point Store API",
    "accessURL": "https://noaa-dcdb-bathymetry-pds.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/readme.html",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Crowdsourced Bathymetry data access on the NOAA Open Data Dissemination program S3 bucket",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Crowdsourced Bathymetry API",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/ingest-external/crowbar/view/main/api-docs?urls.primaryName=Search%20API",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Crowdsourced Bathymetry Search API Documentation",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page",
    "accessURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "NCEI Contact Information",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Information for contacts at NCEI.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
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]
identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC/Collection/iso/xml/Crowdsourced_Bathymetry.xml
issued 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
[
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Abyssal Hills/Plains",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Bathymetry",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Continental Margins",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Fracture Zones",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Ocean Plateaus/Ridges",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Seafloor Topography",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Seamounts",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Submarine Canyons",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Trenches",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Water Depth",
  "Global Ocean",
  "Sea Floor",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce"
]
language 
[]
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
{
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
rights otherRestrictions, otherRestrictions
theme 
[
  "geospatial"
]
title Crowdsourced Bathymetry

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