Data products and surveys

Field Data (Digital)

Modern hydrographic surveys are conducted using the latest satellite positioning technology, advanced multibeam bathymetric data collection systems, and powerful data processing, analysis and portrayal tools.

For information on available digital hydrographic data, please visit the CHS NONNA Data Portal.

Field Sheets (Hardcopy)

CHS has an extensive collection of hydrographic survey data in the form of field sheets based on over 100 years of surveying in Canada. Data has been collected using a wide range of methods and systems, from lead-line to modern day multi-transducer and multibeam systems. Positions have been established using the different types of terrestrial systems and methods available over many years - up to the latest advanced satellite positioning systems.

For information on available field sheets, please email us at chsinfo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Hydrographic Surveys

CHS hydrographers are actively engaged in surveying and measuring Canada’s inland navigable waterways out to the edge of the continental shelf and beyond, the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Ocean coasts. The data collected by hydrographers is used to produce authoritative nautical charts and publications and to support a broad range of marine activities.

Hydrographic surveys capture water depths, geographical features, hazards to navigation, man-made and natural features that aid navigation, tides, currents and water levels, and sea bottom characteristics. We follow rigorous, internationally-recognized standards and guidelines when we conduct hydrographic surveys.

To learn more about our guidelines and standards:

• Management Guidelines for Hydrographic Surveys
• Standards for Hydrographic Surveys (See IHO S-44)
• CUBE Bathymetric data Processing and Analysis
• Special Requirements for Bathymetric Data - Marine Scientific Research Requests
• Lidar Supply arrangement
• Multibeam Supply Arrangement

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) CHS NONNA bathymetric data

CHS offers a complete inventory of bathymetric data free to the general public for non-navigational use. We call them 'CHS NONNA' for the 'non-navigational' purpose of the data and the product is available in a spatial resolution of 10 metres or 100 metres.

This data represents a consolidation of digital bathymetric sources managed by the CHS. The CHS NONNA-10 products are a ten-fold improvement over its data predecessor, CHS NONNA-100. Both are a significant improvement in detail and accuracy over the 500-metre data we formerly had available to the general public. Images on this page show the difference in the level of detail before the CHS NONNA-100 and CHS NONNA-10.

The CHS NONNA data is accessible free of charge, both to view or download in various formats, to anyone interested in Canada’s marine space. You may access all CHS NONNA bathymetric data on Open Data (available to the public) or on the Federal Geospatial Platform (available to Government of Canada employees).

Bathymetric Maps

CHS’s bathymetric maps contain a wealth of detail about the nature of the seafloor and the material beneath it. These maps are generally of interest to users whose prime focus is not navigation. This data is available under a free licence from the following link.

Magnetic and gravity maps are available from the Geological Survey of Canada.

General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans

CHS actively participates in and contributes bathymetric data to the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), an international group of experts on ocean mapping.

For more information, refer to GEBCO's website.

Horizontal Control Point Data

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is the authoritative source for horizontal control data in Canada.

• Access NRCan’s online database

If you’d like to speak to the Canadian Hydrographic Service about this type of information, please email us at chsinfo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Maritime Boundaries

CHS plays a vital role in helping determine Canada's maritime boundaries. CHS's charts delineate the territorial sea of Canada, the contiguous zone of Canada, and the exclusive economic zone of Canada. For information on available maritime boundaries maps, please email us at chsinfo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or visit our interactive maps.

High-water Line for British Columbia

The CHS Pacific High Water Coastline Dataset is a high resolution vector coastline that represents the Higher High Water Large Tides mark in BC’s tidal waters.

This shapefile format coastline is derived from a compilation of sources including modern satellite imagery and other CHS data products and is designed for GIS users in the non-navigation community.

Download

Sea Floor Classification Data for British Columbia Waters

The CHS Pacific Seafloor Classification Dataset is a continuous surface of statistically derived polygons from over 140000 point samples collected between 1911-2008. This shapefile format seabed characterization is distilled into 36 discrete classes based on CHS Chart No. 1 and a modified Folk classification system.

Download