Standardized Seabed Geomorphology Classification Tool

ISGM-SGC is a standardized classification tool for seabed geomorphology developed by the International Seabed Geomorphology Mapping Working Group. It assigns five hierarchical classification levels and 16 additional attributes to describe seabed features. The tool was released as an Esri ArcGIS Pro Python tool and is maintained by geoscience agencies from the UK, Norway, Ireland, and Australia.

Use Cases

• Classify mapped seabed shapes into a five-level hierarchical geomorphic structure using drop-down lists.
• Assign 16 additional descriptive attributes to selected seabed features for detailed geomorphic interpretation.
• Integrate classified geomorphology data with Part 1 morphology mapping workflows for complete seabed characterization.
• Apply a standardized nomenclature to bring consistency to seabed feature classification across different mapping projects.

Strengths

• Implements a standardized, peer-reviewed two-part classification framework (Dove et al., 2020; Nanson et al., 2023).
• Developed through international collaboration among four national geoscience agencies.
• Tool logic dynamically updates lower-level classification options based on higher-level user choices.

Limitations

• Dataset size, row count, and specific column structure are not provided in the description.
• The tool's utility is dependent on prior bathymetric data and Part 1 morphology mapping outputs.
• License terms for data produced using the tool are not specified.

Provenance

Source

International Seabed Geomorphology Mapping Working Group (ISGM), comprising geoscience agencies from the UK, Norway, Ireland, and Australia.

Collection Method

Developed as an Esri ArcGIS Pro Python tool using a standardized, hierarchical classification framework.

Freshness

Tool metadata was last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Global, designed for application to seabed mapping projects worldwide.