Advancing U.S. Leadership in Seafloor Mapping Technology for the Academic Research Fleet

This project supports the Multibeam Advisory Committee (MAC), which helps ensure that sonar systems on U.S. research vessels produce accurate maps of the seafloor. These data are critical for understanding ocean processes, assessing natural hazards, and managing marine resources. Through coordination across the U.S. Academic Research Fleet in partnership with the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS), the MAC improves the consistency and reliability of ocean data collection. The project advances the national interest by strengthening shared scientific infrastructure and supporting workforce development through hands-on technical training. This project supports the Multibeam Advisory Committee in providing technical guidance for multibeam echosounder systems across the fleet. Activities include participation in system installations, calibration and acceptance testing, and development of best practices for data acquisition and processing. The project also includes a pilot effort to evaluate increased automation of multibeam workflows on select vessels to improve efficiency and data consistency. Annual reporting will include summaries of system performance, fleet-wide health status, and progress on automation efforts. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2614985 | Program: 01002728DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT,01002930DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT,01002829DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT,01003031DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT,01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Anand Hiroji | Institution: University of Southern Mississippi, HATTIESBURG, MS | Award Amount: $101,658 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2614985 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2614985.html