From volunteer ping to community map – The CHS’ Community Hydrography Program

To support coastal communities in collecting and using bathymetric data in the nearshore areas they depend on for travel, hunting, and fishing, the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) launched its Community Hydrography Program in 2022. The Program was developed by examining the successes and shortcomings in the documentation of past community hydrography initiatives. Its method focuses on the timely generation of results, namely to maintain project participants’ motivation and engagement. A use case demonstrates how community-collected bathymetry data paired with satellite data led to the creation of a community map in just 18 days.