With over 5,300 miles of U.S. coastline, the Great Lakes are a cornerstone of North American commerce, ecology, and recreation. For nearly a decade, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey (OCS) has leveraged modern hydrographic mapping across all five lakes to ensure that U.S. nautical charts support safe and efficient navigation.
This project yields even greater value as detailed foundational data about the depth, shape, and composition of the lakebed is collected. The information unlocks new insights that fuel smarter decision making and supports activities such as habitat classification, fisheries management, ecosystem restoration, and shoreline stabilization.
To meet NOAA’s growing demand for modern hydrographic data across all five lakes, NV5 has emerged as a key solution provider – delivering high-resolution maps that span from ship to shore. Since 2020, we have undertaken numerous projects in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior that expand what’s possible in hydrography and accelerate how quickly stakeholders can act on the survey data.
And we have no intention of stopping there.
NV5: A Full-Spectrum Mapping Force
We bring together a rare combination of assets – aircraft, vessels, autonomous platforms, sensors, and geographic information system (GIS) capabilities – that allow us to execute complex missions with speed and control. Whether it’s topobathymetric lidar, multibeam sonar, or pioneering workflows, we can tailor each project to the unique demands of the geography and stakeholders.
We’ve already mapped 1,500 nautical square miles across five key projects:
Chicago: Our initial nearshore project focused on mapping to the shoreline in a shallow, industrial corridor. We identified hundreds of features and obstructions, including uncharted hazards to navigation. The scale and complexity demanded a 24/7 multivessel strategy, anchored by our boat, the R/V Substantial. We also deployed our Survey Information Management System (SIMS) for real-time data validation and project management, which enabled us to streamline data collection and delivery, and set a high standard for speed and accuracy.
Western Lake Michigan: Off the coast of Wisconsin, this project overlapped with a shipwreck sanctuary and included three field teams working in tandem to produce a digital elevation model (DEM). Because we were operating farther offshore, we had the opportunity to test broadband ship-to-shore communications, which accelerated data transfer and further improved the efficiency of our workflows. Additionally, upgrades to the R/V Substantial enhanced the vessel’s stability, resulting in even better data quality and enabling continuous 24-hour operations.
Southern Lake Michigan: This project off the coast of Chicago combined both offshore and nearshore mapping. High-resolution bathymetry derived from multibeam sonar data revealed lakebed changes between sand and rock outcrops, and detailed imagery of shipwrecks and other sunken man-made objects. Again, the R/V Substantial played a key role in data collection, and the surveyors conducted real-time quality control of all data collected to ensure complete coverage of the area.
Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary: In this first-of-its-kind integration of topobathy lidar (airplane-based) and multibeam sonar (vessel-based) by one vendor under a single task order, we have already mapped 770 square nautical miles in Lake Huron, and expect to add another 800 linear nautical miles by the project’s completion. During this project, we’re also pioneering a new workflow that adapts topobathymetry to charting standards written for sonar, and leveraging our real-time data systems – like SIMS and Quara – for ship-to-shore streaming, remote quality control (QC), and collaborative decision-making. This enables us to turn raw data into strategic insight faster than ever.
Apostle Islands: We’re currently working on this project in Lake Superior for NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management, utilizing the same specifications as our OCS projects. We are filling critical information gaps using the R/V Chinook, equipped with a new multibeam sonar system deployed on over-the-side pole mounts. The data will improve understanding of the island habitat for the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and state and local partners.
See What’s Next at Oceans 2025
These projects are just the beginning of our work in the Great Lakes. At Oceans 2025 (September 29 to October 2 in Chicago), we’ll showcase our state-of-the-art technologies, processes, and strategic partnerships, which are redefining the future of hydrography.
Stop by our booth (Festival Hall B, #624) and explore how NV5 is helping NOAA and other stakeholders move faster – from data collection to decision-making.
About NV5 Geospatial- NV5 Geospatial is a provider of geospatial services, providing end-to-end solutions and insights to organizations that need geospatial intelligence to mitigate risk, plan for growth, better manage resources and advance scientific understanding. We combine the widest array of advanced remote sensing technologies with proprietary processes, analytics tools, algorithms, and analyses tailored to meet our clients’ needs.