The “capstone” project is an exclusive feature of the new GEOMAR-CREATE Summer School for Seafloor Mapping where students participate in team and individual exercises to put into practice what they have learned in the mapping school. Data packages, including multibeam data, geophysical data, and literature data, are provided to competing teams (and individuals) in a “Seafloor Mapping Challenge”. The teams compile, integrate, and interpret the data to produce real-world geological maps of the seafloor. The winning maps have the potential to be published in one of several international ocean atlas initiatives (e.g., AtlantOS, EMODnet, GEBCO-Nippon Ocean Atlas).
Students have the possibility of working directly with commercial partners to develop demonstration projects that take advantage of industry data and core expertise in the marine geoservices industry. iMAGE-CREATE is also engaging companies that provide machine-learning solutions for mapping as an additional approach. Trainees are exposed to and use state-of-the-art industry data sets as well as applications such as the Fugro Tellus basin models (now Robertson-CGG), GPlates, and Move-3D software for integrating structural and geophysical data. Experience in these high-tech solutions for mapping and resource exploration is critical for future employees in the industry.
An inaugural 4-week mapping project with students from Canada and Germany was recently completed as a very successful proof-of-concept, resulting in publication of the maps and recruitment of all 4 students into the iMAGE-CREATE.
