Clear Waters, Stronger Depths: Advancing Bathymetric Lidar Through Community Practices

Abstract. The science of mapping beneath the water's surface with lasers is no longer novel, but its relevance has never been greater. Over the past decade, bathymetric lidar has evolved from a niche tool into a diverse ecosystem of sensors and operators, tailored to specific missions. This diversity brings strength but also challenges, requiring careful alignment of tools and tasks for meaningful results. Collaboration among academia, government, and industry has driven this evolution, exemplified by the Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise (JALBTCX). Since 1998, JALBTCX has leveraged operational insights to elevate data quality and research for its partners. With the recent growth in technology and applications, industry have begun to look towards the American and International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS, ISPRS) for support in how they have improved our understanding in other remote sensing sciences. ASPRS’s Bathymetric Working Group, inspired by the Multibeam Advisory Committee’s wiki model, is fostering a centralized resource to address common challenges and approaches for specific applications. This paper presents a review of challenges that JALBTCX has experienced through decades of airborne lidar bathymetry operations, the foundational principles that govern them, and a framework and approach for maximum transparency in bathymetric lidar. “Clear waters, stronger depths” symbolizes a unified commitment to transparency, openness, and purpose-driven application, strengthening both our technical capabilities and collective trust in the maps we create.