Environmental protection, resource management, and basic science depend on detailed maps of the mountains, valleys, and other geographic aspects of our planet—including the underwater realm. An increasing number of agencies and institutions are adopting GIS to integrate data from different studies and create a platform for developing a data model that manages dynamic marine data.

Human population sprawl inevitably affects conditions for the life in and surrounding seas and lakes. GIS technology helps scientists and researchers understand this and other marine biological concerns that are vital to preservation and conservation such as the problems of collapsing fish and marine species populations, polluted beaches, toxic algal blooms, waterborne disease, and other issues that continually pose a threat.

The spatial analysis, modeling, charting, and 3D visualization capabilities of GIS expand the potential of research, enabling scientists to locate and isolate specific areas that have increased problems and potentially dangerous conditions.

Mapping and visualization propel research forward and lead to a better understanding of the earth and a clearer vision for the future. GIS is now playing a crucial role in exploring a vast part of our world that in many ways is still as unfamiliar as the distant planets. The articles in this section shed light on some important underwater GIS projects.

For more information, visit www.esri.com/marine.