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Data Submission

The IHO DCDB can accept data on 9-track tape, 8-mm tape, 3480 tape, 1/4" cartridge tape, write-once CD, or floppy disk, preferably formatted in the MGD77 format. The Data Center also can both distribute and accept data by internet using file transfer protocol (ftp) procedures. Any well documented format is acceptable.

Mailing Address:
NOAA/NGDC
E/GC3 325 Broadway
Boulder, CO USA 80305-3328

IHO Data Center for Digital Bathymetry (IHO DCDB)

The National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, USA, operates a worldwide digital data bank of oceanic soundings on behalf of the Member Countries of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). The IHO is based in Monaco and presently has approximately 60 Member Countries. An initial proposal was forwarded to the IHO jointly from the National Ocean Service, NOAA, and the US Defense Mapping Agency recommending formation of an international data center. On June 1, 1990, the IHO Data Center for Digital Bathymetry (DCDB) was officially established. Since that time, the IHO DCDB has made substantial progress toward establishing itself as the focal point for digital hydrographic data services for IHO Member Countries.

DATABASES

The worldwide digital data bank of oceanic soundings are maintained in several data bases, including the GEODAS global marine geophysical data base, and the Hydrographic Survey Data System. The NOSHDB (National Ocean Service Hydrographic Database) is a subset of the Hydrographic Survey Data System.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE IHO DCDB

The following services are provided by the NGDC on behalf of the IHO:

  1. Operation of the data center with a focus of activity on oceanic regions with depths greater than 100 meters.
  2. Provision, free of charge to the IHO for use by its Member Countries, of the data needed for their national or international projects. IHO Member Countries' Hydrographic Offices are requested to provide the IHO DCDB with digital bathymetric data collected by their nation's institutions in oceanic regions.
  3. Maintenance of a quality control facility whereby data provided to the IHO DCDB are checked for violation of physical principles (e.g., instantaneous changes in ship position, high ship speeds) and completeness of metadata for contributed cruises.
  4. Maintenance of inventories in digital form of all digital bathymetric data held in the data center.
  5. Collaboration with various international organizations in the developments of exchange formats and standards to expedite bathymetric data exchange.