The Development of Seabed Sediment Mapping Methods: The Opportunity Application in the Coastal Waters

Abstract

Coastal areas have a significant role in human life worldwide, where world economic activities are concentrated in coastal areas. One of which is the activity of loading and unloading import-export goods through ports. Ports management must use a nautical chart to ensure the safety of shipping activities. The nautical chart contains graphical information from the sea and coastal areas, namely: seabed topography, natural and artificial seabed features, coastlines, navigation hazards, both natural and artificial navigation aids, tides, currents, human-made structures such as ports, buildings, and bridges. Seabed sediment is also essential information that must be available in the Nautical Chart. Several techniques and methods are used to make a seabed sediment map, namely mechanical grab (lead line, grab sampler, coring) and acoustic (side-scan sonar, singlebeam, and multibeam echosounder). This paper reviews seabed sediment mapping techniques and proposes techniques and methods in the future.