Welcome to the November 2021 edition of the International Hydrographic Review! I am excited to share the articles and notes of this edition with you. This will be my last IHR edition as the editor. The past two years have been very different than I expected when taking this position, but I have truly enjoyed the experience. The COVID pandemic impacted everyday life in so many ways: loss of friends and family, reduction in hydrographic surveys, travel restrictions, virtual conferences, establishment of remote work protocols, and so much more. Through it all, I was amazed by the resilience and ingenuity of the hydrographic community.
I want to thank the IHO for allowing me the privilege of serving as the IHR Editor – it has been my honor. I am proud of the work the entire IHR team accomplished these past two years: a new website, improved access to IHR archives and four great editions. I especially want to thank all the authors who contributed articles and notes – without your insight, dedication and commitment, the IHR would not be successful.
This edition starts off with a series of articles that look deep into subjects that are highly important to today’s hydrographic offices. First up, three articles from Brazil beginning with a discussion of chart datums in areas of micro and meso tidal regimes. Closely following, but inherently related, is an article addressing the various components required to enable under keel clearance operations. Finally, Brazil has provided a detailed look at their testing of the IHO S-57 to S-101 converter to help improve the process and expand the greater community’s knowledge. Next is an article from Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand discussing the challenges and methods available to conduct mapping and charting missions in remote locations, which is particularly applicable to island nations. The MACHC provides a comprehensive look at the status of ENCs in their region and the need to adopt regional standardization to ensure navigation safety.
Our notes begin with the Kenya National Hydrographic Office and Kenya Port Authority providing a very positive update of hydrographic services and hydrospatial data infrastructure in their country. This is followed by a description of the bathymetry compilation process used by the Canadian Hydrographic Service that is designed to improve quality and accelerate dissemination of products. Next, a note from members of the IHO’s Crowdsourced Bathymetry (CSB) Working Group that provides both an update on current status of the working group and a reminder of the impact CSB can provide to the global com- munity. Continuing in our effort to highlight Women in Hydrography, Ms. Jacinthe Cormier provides a fascinating look at her career in hydrography, culminating in her service as Director, Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) in Nova Scotia. The next note highlights the commitment of NOAA (USA) to engage stakeholders through the establishment of a NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HRSP) Federal Advisory Committee (FAC). Finally, a global Hydrospatial Movement Club and Community (HMCC) is reviewed with a collection of references that should prove useful to learn more about this concept.
I hope you enjoy the articles and notes in this edition; the topics addressed are wide-ranging, relevant, and reflective of the ever-growing knowledge and skill in our hydrographic community. Don’t forget to submit articles for the May 2022 by January 31, 2022. It’s a great time to be a hydrographer!
Brian Connon
Editor