Providing an overview of the Canadian Ocean Mapping Research and Education Network (COMREN), this presentation will offer a perspective of this collaborative and dynamic virtual organization. With a steadfast commitment to advancing ocean, river, lake, and coastal mapping knowledge and education throughout Canada, COMREN has established itself as a collaborative entity in the field since its inception in February 2016. The membership base, comprising academic institutions and a non-profit organization, forms a synergistic alliance, collectively contributing to the network's overarching mission. In recognition of the ever-evolving landscape within which COMREN operates, its original model was reviewed in 2023. This evaluative process was geared towards identifying opportunities for transformation, with a specific focus on the potential for the network to evolve into a more agile and efficient community of practice (CoP). Simultaneously, efforts were directed towards fostering inclusivity, solidifying COMREN's identity as both a virtual organization and network. The ensuing presentation will highlight the key findings and outcomes arising from the 2023 COMREN Review, placing particular emphasis on structural observations and the proposed enhancements envisaged. Moreover, the presentation will extend to encompass suggested updates to the Strategic Directions for the period spanning 2024-2034. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the strategic direction that guides COMREN within the broader hydrospatial context. Anticipate a nuanced overview of COMREN's purpose, the composition of its membership, and the noteworthy advancements made in direct response to insights derived from the 2023 review. The presentation will underscore COMREN's unwavering commitment to maintaining a leading position in hydrospatial advancements, emphasizing how it continues to fortify mapping capabilities and knowledge in Canada's diverse aquatic environments in an emerging sustainable blue economy.

The International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC) is responsible for maintaining International Hydrographic Organization Publications S-5A, S-5B, S-8A and S-8B. S-5A/B set the requirements for internationally recognized educational programs for hydrographic surveyors and for regional schemes of individual hydrographer certification, such as those established by the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors and the National Society of Professional Surveyors/The Hydrographic Society of America. S-8A/B apply to nautical cartography programs. The IBSC is embarking on an update of the existing S-5 and S-8 standards. The proposed new editions will update the content and competencies, and for S-5, will incorporate the recognition of separate subject-based training modules. The target for releasing the new editions is spring 2026. The IBSC is actively seeking input from hydrographers, cartographers, and hydrographic organizations as it develops these new standards. In October 2023 the IBSC convened a regional stakeholder workshop in London to begin these consultations. Going forward, a similar workshop is planned for Canadian Hydrographic Conference 2024, an IHO Circular Letter will be distributed, and FIG Commission 4 will circulate information to the FIG hydrographic community. As initial drafts are developed, they will be shared. The new standards are intended to reflect the core competencies needed by hydrographers and cartographers working in all segments of the profession. This will imply that programs aimed a particular segment of hydrographic/cartographic practice must also include core learning content for all segments, and some advanced competencies for a particular segment will require specialized training beyond the scope of Category A or B learning outcomes. Standards of competence must stay abreast of new technologies and techniques in the field. The development of new editions of S-5 and S-8 is intended to meet that requirement and will be accomplished through collaboration with the hydrographic community.

This presentation will demystify and promote global Hydrographer Certification. If you've graduated successfully from an International Hydrographic Organization / International Surveyors Federation / International Cartography Association (IHO/FIG/ICA) - International Board on Standards of Competences (IBSC) for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers - recognized Category S-5A (Cat A) or S-5B (Cat B) academic program, and possess relevant hydrographic experience, you're eligible to apply for a professional certification as a hydrographer. However, it is crucial to dispel a common misconception – graduating successfully with a Cat A or Cat B certificate does not confer individual professional hydrographer certification. This is great achievement, and major step getting closer to individual certification, but you're not there yet! If your educational background differs and you hold a degree or diploma from a geospatial or an hydrospatial program, coupled with pertinent specialized hydrographic experience, you could also become a certified hydrographer. This broader eligibility aims to encompass a diverse range of qualified individuals in the hydrospatial field. This presentation seeks to clarify and debunk myths surrounding hydrographer certification in the hydrospatial domain. Graduating with a Cat A or Cat B certificate from an IBSC-recognized academic program is a significant step, but it does not equate to full professional hydrographer certification. The process involves a formal application and evaluation by one of the four globally IBSC recognized professional certification organizations, ensuring that certified hydrographers meet specific criteria beyond academic achievements. In summary, whether you graduated successfully from a Cat A or Cat B program or hold a geospatial or hydrospatial degree/diploma, your journey to becoming a certified hydrographer requires one more and key step – submitting a formal request for evaluation. This distinction is crucial to understanding the complete pathway to hydrographer certification elevating your global hydrospatial career in hydrography.

In 2022, the CIDCO (Interdisciplinary Center for the Development of Ocean Mapping) program “Course in Hydrographic Surveying” has been recognized for the second time by the International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC) as a category B program under the “Standards of competence for Hydrographic Surveyors” S-5 Edition 11.0.1. The CIDCO Course in Hydrographic Surveying is the only Cat-B program delivered both in French and in English in North America. The course is provided over a period of 40 weeks and it is composed of two main parts, which are the theoretical part and the Comprehensive Final Field Project (CFFP). The theoretical part of the course is given in an "e-learning" formula. The on-line platform we are using is among the best Learning Management System (LMS), it allows us to manage course activities and post course materials and electronic documents. This type of format makes the teaching resources and materials accessible to students any time from any computer anywhere in the world. In addition, this gives students the opportunity to complete the online activities in their own time without the same pressures as in-class activities. Over the past 7 years, 33 students from 18 different countries have completed the online program (Figure 1). Given that the training is offered via e-learning formula and because the students should have to perform hands-on exercises throughout all the period of the training, CIDCO have made available to them many materials and practical exercises to consolidate the learning outcomes of the modules. Simulations using hydrographic acquisition and processing softwares and simulators make it possible for students to perform simulated fieldwork exercises. These simulations are complemented by videos, images and other additional materials. The CIDCO is committed to capacity building and our program provides the theoretical foundation and practical field experience that enables future hydrographers to execute hydrographic surveys, monitor and evaluate survey data quality in accordance with the newest IHO standards. Graduate students will be able to work as hydrographers on large survey operations such as nautical charting surveys, offshore surveys or on small survey units, utilized for ports, coastal engineering, inland waters and surveys launches in support of a large-scale survey operation.

Satellite Derived Bathymetry offers an accessible and widely applicable technique for surveying coastal waters. The technology is now largely accepted and has been added to the collection of tools deployed by governments and private organizations responsible for and/or operating in these shallow water environments. As such, SDB is a tool of the Modern Hydrographer, and universities with Hydrographic programs are developing curricular elements to address it with varying degrees of detail. This presentation will demonstrate the elements of successful public-private partnerships in the implementation--understanding, learning, applying--of this technology at the level of university students, enabling participation in the global ocean mapping community and contributing to the Seabed 2030 project. In summer of 2023 through partnerships between Seabed 2030, The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and TCarta initiated an SDB internship program whereby eight Ocean Mapping students developed space-based hydrographic surveying skills and produced Satellite Derived Bathymetry data in support of Marine Institute research programs, for Native Arctic villages for reconnaissance of uncharted waters, and for contribution to the Seabed 2030 project. Removal of the need for expensive equipment to survey coastal waters for the purpose of updating nautical charts, environmental modeling, development planning and other non navigational uses of bathymetric information provides the potential for community-based and crowd sourced bathymetry via Satellite Derived Bathymetry to make a real world impact immediately. Relevance of the work is one essential element of a successful public-private partnership, and this presentation will present other essential elements, while also proposing a model and roadmap for future successful, similar programs.

Creating a unified Nautical Geospatial Specialist Certification scheme, aligned with the competency standards of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), and International Cartographic Association (ICA), is imperative on a global scale. This initiative aims to offer a standardized pathway for certification for professionals in the field of nautical cartography. Given the popularity of the S-8B program to hydrographic organizations, there currently does not exist a structure for students who graduate from a recognized program to become certified in the same manner that a graduate of a recognized Category S-5B or S-5A can become certified through various certification schemes. There is a need for a recognized scheme to ensure cartographers have the appropriate skill, knowledge, experience and continuous professional development to meet growing demands. Through a Nautical Geospatial Specialist Certification scheme, a Regional approach would be taken to provide members from public, academia and industry to review applications by applying IBSC competency standards and confirming evidence of academic study, work history and professional development. Using a similar approach to the Category S5 schemes, this presentation is to highlight a way forward to a certification pathway of nautical geospatial specialists to international standards.