Create your own seabed charts

Olex is a unique survey- and mapping system developed by Olex AS in Trondheim.
The system is used, among other things, in fisheries, aquaculture, port work, and subsea piping. Using GPS and sonar, depth data is collected which is continuously calculated and added to previous measurements. The result is visualized, in real time, as a realistic 3D map of the seabed. The system has advanced navigational features and can be upgraded with software extensions to interface with relevant hardware like AIS, multibeam sonars and trawl/ROV positioning systems.


Why are Norwegian coastal data removed from our shared dataset?


Over 27 years, we in Olex AS has shared our collected dataset with those who donate their data, mainly fishing vessels. Now, big gaps along the coast has appeared. The reason is that our armed forces threaten us with prison if we don't cease our sharing. They have forbidden us from sharing data deeper than 30 meters inside our territorial waters.

The armed forces explains over email: "FOH (their head quarters) understand that this might be difficult to comprehend, given that you have acted in the same way since 1997. FOH however points out that the sources of law is changing in line with the changes in society and the security policy challenges that Norway is facing. Businesses must adapt to these changes in the law".

We have always been on friendly terms with the armed forces, the mapping authority, and other governmental outlets. They have benefitted from our shared data. As late as January this year, the armed forces informed us over email that "the mapping authority is modifying Olex data on behalf of the armed forces, so that these may be included in a database with data from the mapping authority and other sources".

"The mapping authority wishes to use Olex data to refine its products where they are missing data on their own. Would this be OK?" Our answer was of course, go ahead! Afterwards, the threats arrived.

The armed forces and mapping authority thus are using Olex data. Meanwhile, the armed forces are threatening us to stop sharing back to the collectors. They use their data without rewarding them. It is as if they are stealing their data.

What does this means for Norwegian Olex customers?


Only Olex AS has been forbidden to share. Customers can continue to share with whomever they want. They can use their Olex in whatever way they wish. Data will not be magically removed from their system.

We hope that customers will continue to donate their data, so that we may update the coastal areas when the armed forces realize they have overstepped. Data outside 12 nm will continue to be maintained.