Recently, the Centro de Investigaciones Oceanográficas e Hidrográficas del Caribe (CIOH), from the Colombia Navy, hosted a CARIS HIPS and SIPS training course which was delivered by CARIS’ SJ(R) José Arturo Arias Cardozo. CIOH summoned hydrographers from different departments of the Dirección General Marítima (DIMAR) with the objective of updating their knowledge in the use of HIPS and SIPS.

Capt. Armando De lisa Bornachera, from CIOH was in charge of the official opening. During the training, participants received technical details on the new tools and functionality available in CARIS HIPS and SIPS 8.0 and the benefits of processing data from multibeam surveys, side scan sonar imagery, backscatter imagery and water column imagery.

The latter was received as a great novelty due to the previous loss of data throughout the water column as the echo sounder would label it as false echoes. It is now possible to have this data available for display and visualization of submerged objects, making clear identification of its features possible. This will go a long way in the identification and classification of wrecks and other features under water.

Participants highlighted the importance of this training in the reinforcement of existing knowledge and learning new workflows with the new tools.