Welcome to the first issue of The International Hydrographic Review (IHR) in 2023. This year is a jubilee year for our publication – the IHR is celebrating its 100th anniversary!
Ever since its first issue published in 1923, the IHR has been a prestigious publication of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), adapting its focus, content and format through changing times. Today, the IHR is a reputable international scientific journal that publishes peer-reviewed articles spanning all facets of hydrography. Additionally, it covers related disciplines, including oceanography, geodesy, remote sensing, geo-information science, geophysics, acoustics, marine technology and navigation.
The readership of the IHR is diverse, encompassing academia, industry, organizations and authorities within the international hydrographic community and beyond. We strive to publish articles that appeal to this broad audience, providing relevant insights and perspectives for all.
The IHO is proud to celebrate the centenary of the IHR this year! To commemorate this milestone, this issue is a special jubilee edition. First, it features a new, redesigned and modern layout in which the IHR will be published from now on. As a special tribute to our readers, a printed copy of this jubilee edition will be presented to each delegate attending the 3rd Session of the IHO Assembly to be held in Monaco from 2 to 5 May 2023.
In the welcoming words to this jubilee edition, Secretary-General Dr Mathias Jonas and the two Directors Abri Kampfer and Luigi Sinapi emphasise the special importance of the IHR as the publication body of the IHO throughout history. The interdisciplinary relevance of the IHR in the fields of oceanography and geodesy become clear in the subsequent welcoming addresses by Ariel Hernán Troisi, Chair of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), and Dr Diane A. Dumashie, President of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG).
The jubilee edition contains five exceptional keynote articles, bringing a unique and valuable perspective on hydrography. Mathias Jonas opens New Horizons for Hydrography and gives an insight into the expected future development. Ute Brönner and her co-authors explore the potential of Digital Twins of the Ocean and their capacity to support the development of a sustainable blue economy in a protected marine environment. How Uncrewed Surface Systems will influence the future of global ocean exploration becomes impressively clear in Larry Mayer’s contribution. While technical advancements are crucial, sustainable development cannot solely rely on the technical domain. As Helen Stewart highlights in an impressive manner, community-led engagement is essential in achieving sustainable outcomes. Peter Ehlers concludes the keynote articles by reflecting on 100 years of international cooperation in hydrography.
To celebrate the jubilee, we have also reached out to all Member States, inviting their National Hydrographers to share their perspectives on historical milestones of hydrography, future trends and the role of the IHR. Look forward to many interesting answers and exciting insights into our global hydrographic community.
Finally, this jubilee edition contains a compendium of 13 articles chosen by the Editorial Board and the IHO Directing Committee of the more than 4,000 published since 1923 that represent important achievements in hydrography over the last 100 years. The reprints of these manuscripts allow us a unique glimpse into the past, from the 1920s to the present. These reprints are also a fitting conclusion to our jubilee edition and allow us to reflect on the rich history and development of our profession.
I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this jubilee edition.
My sincere appreciation to the IHO Directing Committee, Ariel Hernán Troisi and Dr Diane A. Dumashie for taking the time to contribute greetings to this issue. I am deeply grateful to the authors of the five keynote articles, whose exceptional insights and expertise have greatly enriched this issue. My thanks also go to all 21 National Hydrographers who participated in our
questionnaire.
Thank you to the Editorial Board for making this issue possible through your unwavering dedication and hard work! Without the great work of my colleagues in the IHO Secretariat, the IHR would not exist. My most sincere thanks to Luigi Sinapi, Leonel Manteigas, Sarah Jones-Couture, Isabelle Belmonte, Astrid Alonso, Isabelle Rossi, David Giraudeau and Máximo J. Tobías Rubio. You are awesome!
Last but not least, a special thank you to the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) for their professional printing, binding and sending of this issue from Rostock (Germany) to Monaco.
On behalf of the Editorial Board, I hope you enjoy reading this jubilee edition of the IHR.
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| Dr Patrick Westfeld |
| IHR Chief Editor |