Galway Bay bathymetry comparison from Admiralty Chart and LiDAR datasets.

Abstract

The primary objective of this paper was to test the sensitivity of numerical models to bathymetry datasets. Bathymetric datasets used were from; 1) Admiralty Charts and 2) LiDAR & Multi- Beam Echo Sounder surveys. The bathymetries were examined by comparing the contour maps, mudflat extents, basin volumes at various stages of the tide, tidal current velocities, current direction, and water surface elevations. The model results indicate that the main effect of bathymetry accuracy seems to be on the magnitude of current velocity and negligible effects on current directions and water surface elevations.