3D Cave Mapping
Supporting high-resolution spatial documentation that helps transform complex cave passages into accurate, accessible three-dimensional records.
AFDES Florida Chapter
3D Cave Mapping & Conservation
Advancing the documentation and understanding of Florida’s underwater cave systems through 3D mapping, scientific collaboration, field research, and public education.
Chapter Focus
Mapping what lies beneath Florida.
The Florida Chapter focuses on 3D mapping and documentation of cave systems while connecting that work to conservation, groundwater awareness, scientific research, and responsible public stewardship.
Why It Matters
Better maps create better understanding.
Florida’s caves are more than extraordinary geological environments. They are part of a connected karst landscape that includes springs, aquifers, groundwater flow, public water resources, ecosystems, and some of the most technically demanding underwater environments in the world.
Accurate 3D mapping can help document cave geometry, preserve a record of explored passages, support scientific study, improve public understanding, and create a clearer visual connection between what happens underground and the environmental systems at the surface.
Core Pillars
From field data to public understanding.
Field Exploration
Connecting mapping technology with trained cave divers, survey teams, and field operations capable of collecting reliable information underground.
Karst & Groundwater
Using mapped cave systems to improve understanding of the relationship between underground passages, springs, aquifers, groundwater, and Florida’s water resources.
Conservation Education
Translating technical mapping and field research into educational material that helps communities understand why fragile cave and spring systems deserve protection.
Florida Chapter
Explore collaboration
Technology, field work, and conservation working together.
Chapter Framework
Build a three-dimensional record of Florida cave systems
The chapter’s central focus is the documentation of underwater cave environments through modern 3D mapping. These models can preserve spatial information, support research, and make complex cave systems understandable beyond the diving community.
Turn exploration into usable knowledge
Mapping becomes more valuable when it can support scientific questions about karst, groundwater, springs, geology, environmental change, and the long-term documentation of fragile underground environments.
Make the invisible environment visible
Most people will never enter an underwater cave. Three-dimensional visualization can bring these systems into classrooms, research discussions, conservation initiatives, and public policy conversations without requiring physical access to the cave itself.
Collaboration
Technical Collaboration
CaveViewer
CaveViewer provides a natural technical connection through 3D cave mapping, visualization, survey data, and software development. Collaboration can support documentation and educational use without making CaveViewer an AFDES-owned program.
Field & Scientific Diving
Bottomline Project can provide a field connection through trained divers,
exploration, documentation, and scientific diving activity in Florida cave systems.
AFDES Florida Chapter
AFDES provides the public-interest framework: conservation education, civic
engagement, research communication, and broader public understanding.
Shared Objective
Document the caves accurately, understand them scientifically, and use that
knowledge to encourage responsible stewardship of Florida’s underground resources.