Marine

Marine

Our extensive marine datasets have been compiled over the years through several programmes including INFOMAR and EMODnet.

 

INFOMAR

EMODnet Bathymetry

EMODnet Geology

To access specific datasets, with data download formats and software for viewing the data, click on any relevant links below:

Backscatter

Bathymetry

Sub-bottom

Geology

Lidar

Maps

Seabed Habitats & Substrate

Seabed Samples

Shipwrecks

Survey Coverage and Reports

 

INFOMAR

INFOMAR is the INtegrated Mapping FOr the Sustainable Development of Ireland's MArine Resource Programme.

It is a twenty year programme to map Ireland’s seabed. INFOMAR is funded by the Department of the Environment, Cliamte and Communications (DECC), and delivered by joint management partners Geological Survey Ireland and the Marine Institute.

Official website

​​​​​TypeSource
Data DownloadLink to portal
Note, you may need to hard reload the Portal in your browser following recent maintenance.
Map ViewerLink to viewer
Metadatahttp://isde.ie/ keyword 'infomar'
Data.gov.ieLink to Data.gov.ie website keyword 'infomar'
Web ServicesRest services Image Services​
​The Real Map of IrelandDownload PDF
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EMODnet Bathymetry

EMODnet is the European Marine Observation and Data network.

Developing and providing a harmonised Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the seabed for European sea regions.

Official website

​​​​​TypeSource
Data DownloadLink to EMODnet Bathymetry Viewing and Download service
MetadataLink to EMODnet Bathymetry Data Discovery and Access service
Web Services

WMS

WFS

EMODnet Geology

EMODnet is the European Marine Observation and Data network.

Developing and providing a harmonised Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the seabed for European sea regions.

Official website

​​​​​TypeSource
​Data DownloadEMODnet Geology Portal Data Products 
Map Viewers

EMODnet Geology Portal Viewer

Web Services

EMODnet Geology Portal Service Documentation

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Backscatter

A Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) also measures the strength of the sound returning from the seabed, known as backscatter. Each seabed type (mud, sand, gravel, rock) is given a backscatter value, depending on the strength of the sound returned to the sonar head. Rocky areas have high returns. Soft sediments like sand absorb energy and have low backscatter returns. These values are used to make a grey-scale image with a dark colour for high returns (rocks) and a bright colour for low returns (sand). 

Backscatter data formats.

​Image​​​​​FormatSoftwareInstructions​
PDF chartFree AdobeDownload Charts

Geotiff (.tif)ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Survey Leg Data or Download Entire Area Tab

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Bathymetry (shaded relief, water depth / underwater terrain)

We use a Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) on a boat to determine water depth. The depth is calculated based on the time it takes the sound to be emitted from the sensor, hit the seabed and bounce back. The water depth maps are known as "Bathymetry Maps". We use software called Fledermaus to get the 3D effect. By using vertical exaggeration, artificial sun-shading (mostly as if there is a light source in the northwest) and colouring the depths using colour maps, it is possible to highlight the subtle relief of the seabed. These are known as "Shaded Relief Bathymetry Maps".

Bathymetry data formats.

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions
PDF chart​Free Adobe
Download Charts
Google (.kmz)Free Google Earth​
Download KMZ
See Google Earth Column

​Grid XYZ
​ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Survey Leg Data Tab - Select Download Survey Leg Data - Select Download XYZ
Shaded Relief Bathymetry GeoTiff
ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Survey Leg Data Tab - Select Download Survey Leg Data -Select Download Shaded Relief Geotiff
Floating Point Geotiff Grid
ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Survey Leg Data Tab - Select Download Survey Leg Data - Select Download Bathymetry GeoTiff

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Sub-bottom (SEGY)


The SBP family includes various types of systems including 'Pinger' systems which transmit a single frequency (~4 kHz) and 'Chirp' systems which transmit a sweep of frequencies (e.g. 2-10 kHz) in a single pulse. These systems use lower sound frequencies that penetrate further into the sediment and examine sediment layers and the extent of bedrock.

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions

SEGY
Seismic data softwares
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Survey Leg Data Tab - Select Download Survey Leg Data – Select Download SEGY

​Online
​Any browser
​INFOMAR Data Viewer See Sub-bottom Profile Availability and Sub-bottom Profile Tracklines layers. 

Shapefile
ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Vector Datasets Tab for Sub-bottom Tracklines Shapefile.




​​​​Geology

The Onshore Geology map is the Bedrock Geology 1:1 Million scale map. The Seabed geology 1:1 Million scale map was compiled for the EMODnet Geology project (lithology). 

Geology data formats.

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions
ShapefileArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Vector Datasets Tab for offshore shapefiles
Shapefile
ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
Bedrock For onshore shapefile see 'Bedrock Geology 1 Million'

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Lidar

This method of surveying emits two laser light beams from a sensor on-board an airplane. The red beam reaches the water surface and bounces back, while the green beam penetrates the water hits the seabed and bounces back. The difference in time between the two beams returning allows the water depth to be calculated. Digital photographs can also be taken using a downward looking geo-referenced digital camera. We use software called Fledermaus to get the 3D effect. By using vertical exaggeration, artificial sun-shading (mostly as if there is a light source in the northwest) and colouring the depths using colour maps, it is possible to highlight the subtle relief of the seabed/landscape. These are known as "Shaded Relief Lidar Maps".

Lidar data formats.

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions
PDF chart​Free AdobeDownload Charts

​Geotiff (.tif)ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Survey Leg Data Tab – Type 'LI_' into search to see LiDAR Survey Legs
ESRI ArcGIS GRID
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Survey Leg Data Tab – Type 'LI_' into search to see LiDAR Survey Legs
Grid xyz(.dat)ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Survey Leg Data Tab – Type 'LI_' into search to see LiDAR Survey Legs

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​​​Maps

Maps available for download

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions
​PDF Map​Free Adobe

Download PDF ​The Real Map of Ireland

PDF Map​Free Adobe
Download Charts
OnlineAny browser​View Story Maps

Seabed Habitats & Substrate

The seabed substrate map is created by grouping seabed areas that are alike. We use the bathymetry, backscatter and seabed samples data to select these areas.

EMODnet Geology WP3 Seabed substrate map. This is a broad scale map (1: 250 000 scale) collected and harmonised by the EMODnet-Geology partners. It is classified using the Folk schema (7 classes). 

INFOMAR have produced more detailed Seabed Classification maps for some areas around the Irish coast.

Seabed Habitats data formats.

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions
ShapefileArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Vector Datasets Tab for Sediment Classification Shapefile.


​Online
​Any browser​
​EMODnet Map Viewer See EMODnet Geology - Seabed Substrate Layers. Shapefiles can be downloaded from layer info.


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Seabed Samples

We collect sediment samples from the seabed. 

Looking at the samples along with the bathymetry and backscatter maps allows us to group seabed areas of similar nature, and create seabed habitat maps.

Seabed Sample data formats.

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions
Shapefile
ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Vector Datasets Tab for Sediment Samples Shapefile.

​Online
​​Any browser
Seabed & Sediment Viewer See Sample Points layer
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Shipwrecks

We map shipwrecks.

Shipwreck data formats.

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions

Shapefile
ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Vector Datasets Tab for Shipwrecks Shapefile.
OnlineAny browser​View 3D Models

Survey Coverage & Reports

Download the Survey Coverage polygons & track lines.

You can also download the Survey Leg Reports.

​​​​​ImageFormat​Software​Instructions
PDF Chart
Free Adobe
Download Charts
ShapefileArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Vector Datasets Tab for Survey Coverage Shapefile.
Shapefile
ArcGIS Earth (Free)
ArcGIS PRO
QGIS
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Vector Datasets Tab for Survey Tracklines Shapefile.
PDF, .doc,.xls​Free Adobe
INFOMAR Marine Data Download Portal Select Download Survey Leg Data for individual Survey Leg Reports.

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