Method for determining of shallow water depths based on data recorded by UAV/USV vehicles and processed using the SVR algorithm

•Bathymetric measurements in shallow waters (less than 1 m deep) are necessary to monitor seafloor relief changes in the coastal zone.•It was developed a method for determining shallow waterbody depths based on data recorded by UAV/USV vehicles and processed using the SVR algorithm.•This method is able to determine shallow water depths with the accuracy requirements specified for the IHO S-44 special order (depth error ≤ 0.25 m (p = 0.95)), but only to depths not exceeding 1 m.•For the depth range up to 2 m, the proposed method does not fulfil the accuracy requirements specified for the IHO S-44 special order, because the depth error with a 95% confidence level exceeds the value of 0.3 m.