Terradepth, a seabed information company, has just pulled off a feat that could reshape how we map the ocean floor. The company successfully completed an IHO S-44 Special Order survey using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in the Gulf of America—one of the most demanding international standards for hydrographic accuracy. This isn’t just another data point; it’s a milestone that could accelerate offshore energy projects, infrastructure development, and even environmental monitoring.
The survey took place in roughly 80 meters of water, about 60 miles offshore—a region no stranger to hurricanes or subsea infrastructure. Here’s where it gets interesting: there were no local tide stations or buoys to rely on. Instead, Terradepth used European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellite radar to correct for tidal variations, proving that high-precision surveys can be done autonomously and with minimal logistics. This is a game-changer for remote or challenging environments where traditional survey methods fall short.
The IHO S-44 Special Order standard isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s the gold standard for areas where underkeel clearance is critical, requiring 100% feature search and 100% bathymetric coverage. The level of detail needed here is far more stringent than lower IHO orders. Terradepth’s AUV delivered on all counts, demonstrating that autonomous systems can match—or even surpass—the precision of traditional methods.
But the innovation doesn’t stop at data collection. Terradepth processed and delivered the survey results through Absolute Ocean, its secure, cloud-native ocean data platform. This isn’t just about storing data; it’s about making it accessible, actionable, and verifiable. Stakeholders can now perform quality assurance, quality control, visualization, and decision-making from anywhere in the world. That’s efficiency at scale.
So, what does this mean for the industry? For starters, AUV-enabled surveys provide critical insights into seabed characteristics, infrastructure integrity, and the condition of cables and foundations—across all depths. Terradepth’s data meets National Marine Fisheries Service permitting exemptions and most Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) requirements, which means faster approvals and smoother project execution.
For government agencies and offshore energy operators, this achievement proves that AUV-collected data is ready for operational use. The implications are vast: from safer offshore wind farm development to more accurate environmental impact assessments. The ability to survey autonomously, with high precision and minimal logistics, could unlock new opportunities in deepwater exploration, cable route planning, and even disaster response.
Terradepth’s success here isn’t just about meeting a standard—it’s about setting a new benchmark. As offshore industries push into deeper, more remote waters, the demand for reliable, high-precision seabed data will only grow. This achievement shows that autonomy isn’t just the future; it’s already here, and it’s transforming how we interact with the ocean.