INFOMAR and Geographical Skills
INFOMAR is Irelands national marine mapping programme. It is the follow-on project from the Irish National Seabed Survey which mapped the deeper waters off the countries coast. INFOMAR is now including the countries shallow waters (e.g. bays, harbours, and ports) so that we have a map of all of Ireland's marine territory. These maps will cover the physical, chemical and biological features of the seabed.
INFOMAR have made their resources available to Scoilnet and subject editors have developed curriculum-focused activities around these resources. Resources have been divided into the three collections based on the work of INFOMAR and the learning intentions for this geography collection. The activities and resources within each collection can be used in the classroom to enhance the students learning of geographical skills.
Begin the INFOMAR Classroom Exploration Here
Ireland's territory extends far beyond our coastline up to 220 million acres, an area more than 10 times our land mass. It is important for the nation of Ireland to recognise what is beyond our coastline because the economic benefit of maritime resources is huge. This collection contains activities on the Real Map of Ireland, GIS data, the work of INFOMAR and the formation of Bull Island...>>>
Navigation in the past was dangerous due to poorly surveyed coastal waters. Many ships ran aground close to the coastline on rocks, coral reefs or on other shipwrecks. INFOMAR has surveyed a number of these shipwrecks. By examining the INFOMAR maps, people can plan their navigational routes and make well informed decisions before traveling. In this collection, students explore the documented shipwrecks...>>>
Over 85% of Ireland's designated shelf area has been mapped to date, resulting in one of the largest resources of multi-beam bathymetric data in the world. INFOMAR is considered the best role model for seabed mapping all over the world. In this collection, students explore the topographic features on the bottom of the North Atlantic seafloor as well as the physical geographic features on the seabed around Ireland...>>>
* The INFOMAR programme is a joint venture between Geological Survey Ireland which is Irelands national earth science agency and the Marine Institute.
