This edition comprises three articles and one note. The first article from Italy provides a practical case study of the benefits of monitoring a significant seafloor hazard over a lengthy time period. The study also describes the challenges of handling hydrographic data of varying quality over this time and the tools that are now available to improve the comparison processes. The article identifies the importance of international organisations such as the IHO, IMO and IALA in establishing appropriate standards and guidance that enable nations to work collaboratively to ensure safety of navigation in complex geographic areas.
The second article from France is a comprehensive work on the analysis of error budgets for surface and underwater survey systems. The interfacing and synchronisation of so many interconnected systems and reference frames are critical to ensure that the results from all systems provide a consolidated outcome that meets expected accuracy requirements of the project.
The third article has been reproduced with kind permission of the Australasian Hydrographic Society and discusses the practical issues facing hydrographic survey and nautical cartography training particularly in the SW Pacific region. It is an interesting article that challenges the traditional training processes and the issues of generational expectations that many of us, who are parents of children and young adults, often struggle with when we compare our traditional education experiences.
The Chilean Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) has contributed a Note relating to the acquisition of a new fast survey launch that will assist with conducting surveys in shallow waters and has the capacity to also assist in inshore search and rescue missions.
On behalf of the Editorial Board, I hope that this edition is of interest to you and may inspire you to submit a future paper on the work that you have done or are currently engaged in.
Thank you to the authors for your contributions and to my colleagues who provided peer reviews for the Articles in this edition.
Ian W. Halls
Editor