Multibeam bathymetry is a major reconnaissance tool for marinegeological and geophysical surveys. Bathymetry, backscatter intensityand sidescan data are collected as a first stage of subsequentmultiparameter surveys. The products derived are used for theinterpretation of processes and features on the ocean floor.The AWI Bathymetry and Geodesy Group manages arctic and antarcticbathymetry data from 18 years of R/V Polarstern cruises, heterogeneousin format, quality and processing stage. GIS plays a major role in theprocessing of our bathymetry data. However, the manifold kinds of datathat we store among the bathymetry (data from GPS, gravimetry,altimetry, etc.) are not yet implemented in a homogeneous databasearchitecture ready for synergistic spatial and temporal queries.Aim of the FramBIS project is the creation of a high resolution DigitalElevation Model (DEM) and bathymetric chart series of the Fram Straitbased on Seabeam and Hydrosweep multibeam data from R/V Polarsterncruises between 1984 and today. The Fram Strait region is part of theextensive arctic ridge system, it's topography thus is of interest formultifarious geological and biological ridge process studies.Besides the DEM modelling the project serves as a microscale pilot studyfor a data unification in the afore mentioned sense. Currently we arelooking for an adequate data and database model fitting our needs and asuitable client for data query and retrieval. Bringing the data togetherin an appropriate manner at best raises synergistic potentials forproblem solution, at least offers a new, hopefully inspiring view on thedata.Moreover the technical realization of internal and external databaseaccess via WWW is simplified. This is particularly important asbathymetry data is a significant basic information for the marinescience community. As the global coverage of high resolution bathymetricinformation is still poor it seems desirable not only to have the globallarge scale data (e.g. GEBCO, ETOPO5) available via WWW but also datafrom smaller regions in higher resolution.Our poster describes the use of GIS in our data processing and draws upa plan for a web-based 'Bathymetric Information System' for the FramStrait with GIS-capabilities for data query, analysis and capture. Thissystem is not yet implemented.