Reflecting on MBC84 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
In January 2025, the OMG UNB – CCOM UNH Multibeam Course headed to the Pacific for MBC84. Held at the Queen Kapiʻolani Hotel Waikīkī Beach, the week brought together a diverse group of professionals for an intensive deep dive into the complexities of seafloor mapping.
A Deep Dive into Sonar Systems
MBC84 provided a comprehensive look at the entire multibeam workflow. As the course is designed to challenge even experienced hydrographers, the sessions covered the full technical spectrum, including:
- Acoustics Theory: The fundamental science behind how we “see” with sound.
- System Integration: The critical task of bringing sensors and platforms together.
- Troubleshooting & Data Analysis: Real-world techniques for handling complex datasets.
- Advanced Visualization: Exploring the endless possibilities of backscatter data, ocean current modeling, gas plume detection, and even VR exploration.
The Value of Spatial Context
A core theme of the week was that multibeam mapping is about much more than just collecting data or creating “pretty maps.” It is about bringing information together in a meaningful way to drive better decision-making.
Attendee Perspectives
One participant shared their experience following the session:
“This course was an eye-opening deep dive… It’s geared more toward experienced hydrographers but has something for everyone, we all learned new things. Seeing data in a spatial context allows us to make better decisions… I’m excited to revisit some multibeam backscatter data to prep for an upcoming expedition!”