One of the major efforts of the Center has been to develop improved data processing methods that can provide hydrographers with the ability to very rapidly and accurately process the massive amounts of data collected with modern Multibeam systems. This data processing step is one of the most serious bottlenecks in the hydrographic "data processing pipeline" at NOAA, NAVO, and hydrographic agencies and survey companies worldwide. We explored a number of different approaches for automated data processing but have focused our effort on a technique developed by Brian Calder that is both very fast (10's to 100's of times faster than the standard processing approaches) and statistically robust.

The technique, known as CUBE (Combined Uncertainty and Bathymetric Estimator), is an error-model based, direct DTM generator that estimates the depth plus a confidence interval directly on each node point of a bathymetric grid. In doing this, the approach provides a mechanism for automatically “processing” most of the data and, most importantly, the technique produces an estimate of uncertainty associated with each grid node. When the algorithm fails to make a statistically conclusive decision, it will generate multiple hypotheses, attempt to quantify the relative merit of each hypothesis and present them to the operator for a subjective decision. The key is that the operator needs to interact only with that small subset of data for which there is some ambiguity rather than going through the current, very time-consuming process of subjectively examining all data points.

CUBE was subjected to detailed verification studies in 2003 as part of a cooperative research effort with NOAA that compared the automated output of CUBE to equivalent products (smooth sheets) produced through the standard NOAA processing pipeline. Verification studies were done in three very different environments (Snow Passage, Alaska; Woods Hole, Massachusetts; and Valdez, Alaska) involving surveys in various states of completion and comparisons done by NOAA cartographers. In each case, the CUBE-processed data agreed with the NOAA processed data within IHO limits. CUBE processing took from 30 to 50 times less time than the standard NOAA procedures.

Based on these verification trials and careful evaluation, Capt. Roger Parsons, then director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey, notified NOAA employees as well as other major hydrographic organizations in the U.S. (NAVO and NGA) of NOAA’s intent to implement CUBE as part of standard NOAA data processing protocols. As described by Capt. Parsons in his letter to NAVO and NGA, CUBE and its sister development, The Navigation Surface:

"...promise considerable efficiencies in processing and managing large data sets that result from the use of modern surveying technologies such as multibeam sonar and bathymetric lidar. The expected efficiency gains will reduce cost, improve quality by providing processing consistency and quantification of error, and allow us to put products in the hands of our customers faster."

In light of NOAA’s acceptance of CUBE, most providers of hydrographic software have now implemented CUBE. Dr. Calder continues to work with these vendors to ensure a proper implementation of the algorithms as well as working on new implementations and improvements.