Feedback sought for post-hurricane remapping

Jan 5, 2018 by Triton Staff

A month-long project to remap South Florida waterways affected by Hurricane Irma kicks off Jan. 19, led by Navionics, a Garmin Ltd. company that develops and manufactures electronic navigation charts. The project will focus on changes in shorelines and bottom contours, as well as marine resources, after the hurricane passed through the area in September.

Boaters in the area are asked to participate in the effort by recording and uploading their sonar logs, and reporting the location of marine debris. Navionics accepts sonar data from all major plotter/sonar brands. Boaters can record sonar logs on their plotter, then send them to Navionics via Wi-Fi or upload the logs from the plotter card using a computer. Depth data can also be shared through the SonarChart Live feature, which creates maps in real time. The depth data will be processed and made available as an updated bathymetry map.

Participants are also encouraged to mark debris areas using the Community Edits tool of the Navionics Boating app, allowing mariners to be aware of potential hazards. Navionics will share the debris locations with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which will then coordinate to have it physically removed.

Navionics Nautical Chart will be updated to include coastline corrections, notices to mariners, and the integration of future NOAA Chart editions when issued. The new content will be available as daily updates, easy to download for plotter and mobile, and directly visible on the Navionics website.

Participants who send in sonar logs of the affected area by Feb. 20 will receive one year of daily updates for their plotter card (a $99 value), which includes access to all local chart updates resulting from this project. They will also be entered into a drawing for a variety of boating-related giveaways donated by event partners.

Partnering with Navionics in this effort are Costa Del Mar; The Florida Keys and Key West tourism council; Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; Hawks Cay Resort; Hell’s Bay Boatworks; the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau; Okuma; Power Pole; Sea Tow; West Marine; Yamaha; Yeti Coolers; and YoZuri.

Complete event information, sonar logging and uploading instructions, and official rules are available on the Navionics website at www.navionics.com/RemapSouthFlorida.

Navionics, based in Viareggio, Italy, is a Garmin Ltd. company with U.S. headquarters in Wareham, Massachusetts, as well as offices in the U.K., India and Australia.

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