Optical Satellite-Derived Bathymetry: An Overview and WoS and Scopus Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

A technical and scientific overview regarding satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB)—one of the most promising and relatively cheap methods of shallow water depth determination—is presented. The main goal of the article is to present information about the possibilities of the SDB method to meet the demanding standard of bathymetric measurements in coastal mapping areas up to 20 m deep, i.e., up to depth areas where the largest number of ports and access waterways are located, as obtained using the bibliometric analysis. The Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus scientific databases, as well as R studio applications Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny, were used for scientific analysis. The bibliometric analysis presents the quantitative aspects of producing and disseminating scientific and professional articles with SDB as their topic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to give the academic community an insight into the current knowledge about the SDB method, its achievements and shortcomings. The results of the bibliometric analysis of articles dealing with SDB show that most authors use empirical statistical methods. However, in recent years, articles using automated artificial intelligence methods have prevailed, especially the machine learning method. It is concluded that SDB data can become a very important low-cost source of bathymetric data in shallow coastal areas. Satellite methods have been proven to be very effective in very shallow coastal areas (up to a depth of about 20 m), and their biggest advantage is that the depth data obtained in this way are relatively low cost, while major limitations are associated with the parameters that determine the properties of the atmosphere and water column (clear atmosphere and water column) and bottom material. Procedures for different bathymetric applications are being developed. Regardless of the significant progress of the SDB method, which was manifested in the development of sensors and processing methods, its results still do not meet the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Standards for Hydrographic Surveys S-44.