Survey and data management method based on geographic information system for cable based observatory development

As part of the Next-Generation Technology for Ocean Resources Exploration project in the Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) of the Japanese government, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) is promoting the development of the cabled seafloor observatory system which allows long-term monitoring of hydrothermal vents and ecological changes. Exploring and recognizing the distribution of hydrothermal vents is crucial, not only in deciding where the observatories should be placed to monitor, but also to avoid cable systems from the potential risk of heat damage. In this paper, a survey and data management method utilizing geographic information system (GIS) to plan the cable system installation is introduced and verified with ocean surveys.