The partnership was formalized at a signing ceremony held in Nadi, Fiji, during Seabed 2030’s Pacific Ocean Mapping Meeting. Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Director of Seabed 2030, and Andrew Waddington, Vice President of Bathymetric Services at Hexagon’s Geosystems division, came together to affirm their organizations’ shared commitment to harnessing data for the benefit of people and the planet.
McMichael-Phillips commented: “We are delighted to welcome Hexagon as a valued partner in our mission to achieve a fully mapped ocean floor. Hexagon’s advanced digital capabilities and commitment to innovation are invaluable as we work to create a definitive map that will benefit science, industry, and conservation efforts across the globe.”
Waddington said: “Hexagon is proud to support Seabed 2030’s ambitious goal of compiling a map of the global seafloor by the end of the decade. This collaboration aligns with Hexagon’s vision of using cutting-edge technology to improve our understanding of our world and work towards a more sustainable future.
“We look forward to working alongside Seabed 2030 and sharing our expertise to make a meaningful impact.”
Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), which seeks to inspire the complete mapping of the world’s ocean by 2030, and to compile all the data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. The Project is formally endorsed as a Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade. GEBCO is a joint program of the IHO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and is the only organization with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.
With Hexagon’s digital solutions integrated into Seabed 2030’s mission, this partnership will advance the development of a publicly accessible digital map of the ocean floor. All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project will be included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.
