Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Modelling in Shallow Water: A Case Study of Horseshoe Island

by Muhammed Raşit Çevikalp | Dec 19, 2022

Project Title: Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Modelling in Shallow Water: A Case Study of Horseshoe Island
Project Type: TUBİTAK Project
Project Coordinator: Doç.Dr. Uğur ALGANCI

Apart from being important for nautical navigation, shallow water bathymetry also plays a crucial role in monitoring coastal regions in order to detect and identify high anthropogenic pressure and the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise. The use of a single (SBE) and multi-beam echo sounders (MBE) is the traditional method for surveying seas and oceans; yet this method poses a couple of drawbacks, e.g.: loses its effect as the depth decreases, suffers from limited spatial coverage and temporal resolution, subjects to logistical constraints, corresponds to high operational costs and risks.

With the help of recent advancements, space-borne remote sensing techniques have become an alternative approach for the extraction of bathymetric data in coastal zones, owing to their ability to acquire data over large spatial areas and to provide high-frequency temporal monitoring. The method developed to survey shallow waters is called Satellite-derived Bathymetry (SDB).

In contrast to the traditional methods, SDB requires no mobilization of personnel and equipment and delivers rapid bathymetric data, thus saving time and cost.

Satellite-based bathymetry method, which has increased in popularity as of 2018, gained the identity of an official map data source in 2020 with the updates made in the relevant documents and standards of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).

In this study, an 'Experimental' Satellite-based Bathymetry Model will be constructed for the Horseshoe Island shallow waters. Within the scope of the performance analysis, comparative tests will be carried out with the Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 satellite datasets, whose resolution has been increased through Generative Adversarial Networks, and the satellite data obtained with the national satellite Göktürk.

For the extraction of spectral reflectance values from satellite images and calculation of bathymetric data, 'Logarithmic Transformation', 'Logarithmic Ratio', 'Support Vector Machines', 'Random Forest' and 'Convolutional Neural Network' models will be prepared.

Multi-beam Sonar data collected in the region within the scope of the National Antarctic Science Expeditions will be used for the training and post-inference verification process of these models.

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İTÜ Faculty of Civil Engineering

It can be accepted that the history of ITU Civil Engineering Faculty was commenced in 1727 by the establishment of Humbarahane during the era of Damat İbrahim Paşa. However, this attempt was to no avail due to the martyrization of the studwents of this school by the Janissaries.

In 1734, during the grand viziership of Topal Osman Paşa, classes related to Civil Engineering was being taught in Hendesehane, which was founded in Üsküdar. Similarly, this school was also closed after three years due to the opposition of the Janissaries. The reasons of the tragedy that occured in Battle of Chesma, 1770 were inadequacy of the ships and the ignorance of the Ottoman Navy.

Although the Atlantic Map (1513) and the Map of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea (1523) by Piri Reis were the leading pieces of the era, Ottoman viziers were so ignorant that they claimed it was impossible for the Russian Baltic Fleet to reach the Mediterranean Sea assuming that there were no sea connection. With the proposal from Gazi Hasan Paşa and Baron de Tott, Mühendishane-i Bahri-i Humayun was established during the time of Sultan Mustafa III, aiming to train naval construction engineers. Since Ottoman Empire did not have any engineering schools at the time, military engineering classes were taught by French engineers beginning from 1784. French lecturers had to return to their country in 1788 with the increasing suppression from Austria and Russia, which were unwilling for the development and thriving of Ottoman Empire. In 1759, during the Grand Viziership of Koca Ragıp Paşa, Humbarahane was reopened in Karaağaç, Haliç (Golden Horn) and continued to teach even though it was incompetent. In 1792, Lağımcı Ocağı and Humbaracı Ocağı (Guild of Sappers) were established.