Use of ICEsat-2 and Sentinel-2 Open Data for the Derivation of Bathymetry in Shallow Waters: Case Studies in Sardinia and in the Venice Lagoon

Despite the high accuracy of conventional acoustic hydrographic systems, measurement of the seabed along coastal belts is still a complex problem due to the limitations arising from shallow water. In addition to traditional echo sounders, airborne LiDAR also suffers from high application costs, low efficiency, and limited coverage. On the other hand, remote sensing offers a practical alternative for the extraction of depth information, providing fast, reproducible, low-cost mapping over large areas to optimize and minimize fieldwork. Satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) techniques have proven to be a promising alternative to supply shallow-water bathymetry data. However, this methodology is still limited since it usually requires in situ observations as control points for multispectral imagery calibration and bathymetric validation. In this context, this paper illustrates the potential for bathymetric derivation conducted entirely from open satellite data, without relying on in situ data collected using traditional methods. The SDB was performed using multispectral images from Sentinel-2 and bathymetric data collected by NASA's ICESat-2 on two areas of relevant interest. To assess outcomes' reliability, bathymetries extracted from ICESat-2 and derived from Sentinel-2 were compared with the updated and reliable data from the BathyDataBase of the Italian Hydrographic Institute.

Automated summary

Despite the limitations of conventional acoustic hydrographic systems and airborne LiDAR, remote sensing provides a fast, reproducible, and low-cost alternative for mapping shallow-water bathymetry. Satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) has shown promise in providing depth information, although it typically requires in situ observations for calibration and validation. This paper demonstrates the potential for deriving bathymetry solely from open satellite data, using multispectral images from Sentinel-2 and bathymetric data from NASA's ICESat-2.