SeaZone Solutions is wholly owned by Admiralty Holdings Ltd, which in turn is owned by the UK Secretary of State for Defence and operated on his behalf by the UKHO, delivering UKHO and other agencies’ data to the worldwide geographical information market.

The UKHO and OS have since the 18^th century  independently created their own datasets using different methods, policies and techniques and ultimately for different purposes. Using CMIP will make it possible to deliver marine data that is completely interoperable with Ordnance Survey MasterMapTopography Layer. It will re-engineer the dataset of the current SeaZone Hydrospatial product (the first true digital marine geographic information) to selectively match MasterMap features up to and offshore from the MasterMap defined Mean High Water Shoreline. This is the line most recognised as the boundary of separation between marine and terrestrial datasets.

Dr Mike Osborne, managing director of SeaZone said, ‘The UKHO’s data has traditionally only been used for navigational purposes, and there are considerable inconsistencies at the overlapping coastal fringe.  With a growing demand for and recognition of the importance of digital coastal data within Geographic Information Systems (GIS), resolving these differences has never been more important.

‘A rigorous and trustworthy data source is vital to ensuring consistent good decision making. Making do with two different versions of the same feature from two datasets creates opportunities for inconsistencies to occur and a lack of certainty for users. We believe CMIP will deliver a comprehensive solution to this problem and is major step forward in coastal decision making.’

The Coastline Mapping Improvement Programme (CMIP) pilot dataset, which covers the area of the Thames Gateway, is currently being evaluated. On completion, SeaZone will be implementing CMIP for other areas of Great Britain and considering additional pilot areas within Ireland and other parts of Europe. Completed areas will become standard within SeaZone Hydrospatial, fulfilling SeaZone’s aim to create digital mapping for the marine environment integrated with land mapping within the coast zone.