A new Geomatics Committee Expert Group has been established to enhance IOGP’s Seabed Survey Data Model (SSDM) so that it remains relevant, practical and aligned with how geospatial survey data is produced, managed and used today.
The IOGP SSDM is a cornerstone industry Geographic Information System (GIS) data format for the delivery, management and exchange of seabed survey data.
Since its initial publication in 2011 and the release of Version 2 in 2017, the SSDM has supported seamless integration and interoperability of seabed survey datasets across the energy and geospatial sectors.
This is a highly valued Geomatics Committee product and widely used across the entire industry, allowing more seamless data gathering and insights. Without this common framework, users would face increasing complexities, inconsistencies, and reduced interoperability when managing and exchanging seabed survey data. .
SSDM Version 3 is expected to align the IOGP GIS data models – Seabed Survey Data Model (SSDM), Land Survey Data Model (LSDM) and Offshore Infrastructure Survey Data Model (OISDM) – more closely with each other and with evolving industry needs (see an IOGP Data Model Overview). The revision will also incorporate several significant enhancements based on extensive stakeholder engagement, carried out from 2024 and reviewed in 2025.
When we first envisioned the SSDM over 15 years ago, the goal was simple yet ambitious, to get more value from our seabed survey data by bringing order and consistency to it for the benefit of the entire industry.
Achieving that required perseverance and collaboration beyond what any single operator alone could accomplish. Through the IOGP, we’ve proven that working together delivers solutions that stand the test of time — solutions that not only improve data integrity today but also lay the foundation for a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future.Kevin McLay, Chief Surveyor (Emeritus) Shell, and past member of the Geomatics Committee
SSDM Version 3 will be available for a formal review by the Geomatics Committee and external stakeholders before its expected publication in 2027. The updated model and guidelines will be made publicly available through IOGP Library.
Key updates in Version 3
SSDM Version 3 is expected to incorporate a range of updates to improve usability, compatibility, and technical robustness:
- Full migration from Esri ArcGIS Desktop (ArcMap) to Esri ArcGIS Pro 3.x, ensuring alignment with current industry software trends
- Support for dynamic coordinate reference systems (coordinate epoch), consistent with the IOGP’s EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset and aligned with similar support already included in LSDM and OISDM
- Updated folder structure and delivery templates to reflect ArcGIS Pro project (.aprx) workflows, including guidance on multi-map and layout frame usage
- Compatibility updates to .style(x) files for symbology
- Updated supporting materials, including a comprehensive change log to assist users in migrating from SSDM v2 to v3
- Communication materials outlining the rationale for the update and how SSDM fits within the broader suite of IOGP Geoinformation Subcommittee data models
