In 1976 the Canadian Hydrographic Service was the first hydrographic agency to recognize and display a satellite-discovered feature on a nautical chart. This was the discovery of Landsat island off the coast of Labrador.
In the time since the capabilities of satellites to survey coastal waters have grown exponentially yet the use of satellite based depth information on nautical charts has not. Satellite based surveying offers a multitude of benefits to the safety of operations, empowering First Nation communities and protection of the environment.

Scalable and proven technologies can process multitude of space-based hyperspectral, multispectral and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery through physics-based and deep learning methods for deriving water depths and bottom characteristics from satellite imagery at high resolution and accuracy, revealing previously uncharted subsea features, shoals, reefs and hazards in Arctic coastal waters.

The Canadian Arctic is one of the few remaining vast areas of unknown territory and waters. As research, recreation and commercial vessels expand their access into Arctic waters satellite derived bathymetry and reconnaissance charts, while not official navigational charts, offer an effective tool for improving geospatial intelligence in uncharted waters and replacing whitespace on nautical charts with an enhanced view of the seafloor in coastal waters.

This talk will highlight satellite derived bathymetric survey techniques and application of satellite reconnaissance charts in the Foxe Basin, Nunavut, Canada.