Surveying

(Assignment 01)

Hydrographic Surveying

Muhammad Adil Faiyaz

2010-CV-251
Submitted to Sir Asim
9/19/2010
 Hydrographic Surveying

Introduction:
Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime
navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration/drilling and related disciplines. In
simpler words it may be understood as underwater surveying as well.

Similarly, The International Hydrographic Organization defines hydrography as the branch of applied
science which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of the navigable
portion of the earths surface [seas] and adjoining coastal areas, with special reference to their use for
the purpose of navigation.

For the simplicity of understanding it may be said that, Hydrographic surveying looks into the ocean
to see what the sea floor looks like.

Applications and Purpose:

Hydrographic surveys support a variety of activities: nautical charting, port and harbor maintenance
(dredging), coastal engineering (beach erosion and replenishment studies), coastal zone management,
and offshore resource development. Most surveys are primarily concerned with water depth. Of
additional concern is the nature of the sea floor material (i.e. sand, mud, rock) because of the
implications for anchoring, dredging, structure construction, pipeline and cable routing and fisheries
habitat.

Surveyors pay particular attention to acquiring the precise location of least (shoalest) depths on dangers
to navigation and depths significant to surface navigation. They record the precise location of aids to
navigation. Tide or water level measurements are also recorded to provide a vertical reference (Mean
Lower Low Water) for water depths.

Process
Modern surveying relies as much on software as on hardware. In suitable shallow water areas Light
Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) may be used. Equipment can be installed on inflatable craft, such as
Zodiacs, small craft, AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), UUVs (Unmanned Underwater
Vehicles) or large ships, and can include side-scan, single beam and multibeam equipment. At one time
different data collection methods and standards were used in collecting hydrographic data for maritime
safety and for scientific or engineering bathymetric charts. Increasingly with aid of improved collection
techniques and computer processing the data is collected under one standard and extracted for the
specific use.
After data is collected, it has to undergo post-processing. A massive amount of data is collected during
the typical Hydrographic survey, often several soundings per square foot. Depending on the final use
(navigation charts, Digital Terrain Model, volume calculation for dredging, topography, Bathymetry) this
data must be thinned out. It must also be error corrected (bad soundings,) and corrected for the effects
of tides, waves/heave, water level and water temperature differences (thermoclines.) Usually the
surveyor has additional data collection equipment on site to record the data required for correcting the
soundings. Final output of charts can be created in a combination of specialty charting software or a
CAD package, usually AutoCAD.

Hydrographic mapping relies on time-of-flight scanners, which feature a laser rangefinder that measures
the roundtrip of a laser from the scanner to the scanning subject and back, while scanning for
engineering and construction relies on both time-of-flight scanners and triangulation scanners, the latter
of which emit a pattern of light across a subject's surface and use a camera to measure deviations
caused by the surface. As one might expect, time-of-flight scanners are designed to survey subjects from
long distance, and do not reveal minute data. But triangulation scanners scan subjects at short distance
and do reveal minute data.

Technologies:
The technologies used in hydrographic surveying are many, and are first divided into technologies
capable of underwater surveying and technologies used for land surveying. From there, they are
subdivided into technologies used for ground level surveying and aerial surveying technologies. Some of
the technologies and instruments are highlighted below.

Side Scan Sonar:

Side scan sonar is a specialized sonar system for searching and detecting objects on the seafloor. Like
other sonars, a side scan transmits sound energy and analyzes the return signal (echo) that has bounced
off the seafloor or other objects.

Multibeam Echo Sounders:

Multibeam echo sounders (MBES), like other sonar systems, transmit sound energy and analyze the
return signal (echo) that has bounced off the seafloor or other objects. Multibeam sonars emit sound
waves from directly beneath a ship's hull to produce fan-shaped coverage of the seafloor.

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR):

Light Detection And Ranging, or LIDAR, is a method used by contractors to measure elevation or depth
by analyzing pulses of laser light reflected off an object. These survey systems are typically aircraft-
mounted and provide seamless coverage between land and sea. Bathymetric LIDAR refers to its use to
determine water depth.

Bathymetric LIDAR systems use laser pulses received at two frequencies. Water depths are determined
by measuring the time delay between the transmission of a pulse and its return signal detecting the
seafloor.
Emerging Technologies:
The science of hydrography has changed much over the last century and even the last few decades. New
technologies in sonar, horizontal control and GPS, and computers continue to have the potential to
change standard survey practices and increase efficiencies.

Phase Differencing Bathymetric Sonar:

Office of Coast Survey (OCS) is currently engaged in the evaluation of phase differencing
bathymetric sonar (PDBS) technology for possible use in nautical charting hydrographic survey
work. Studies of several commercially available PDBS systems indicate that they provide high
quality data while significantly increasing efficiency and safety of operations in near shore and
very shallow water areas.
Differential GPS:
Differential GPS (DGPS) is now the principal system used in hydrographic surveying to accurately
determine the position of seabed features. These error corrections are then broadcast through a
radio link to the ships in the vicinity. By applying the corrections to the signals received, a user
can typically improve the accuracy in the order of 5 meters or less depending on the quality of
the receivers

Feasibility:
Entities that have hydrographic surveying needs often consider buying their own scanning equipment
instead of hiring a laser scanning provider that specializes in hydrographic surveying. However, give the
high cost of commercial grade laser scanners-a tripod scanner can easily cost over $100,000-only
entities whose surveying needs are constant and not occasional stand to benefit from buying scanning
equipment. In addition to possessing the necessary expertise for hydrographic surveying, many scanner
providers are also willing to visit worldwide scanning destinations due to the universal application of
laser surveying and the portability of scanning equipment.

Conclusion:
Hydrographic surveying is working under the national agencies mostly though there are still
hydrographic surveys being conducted by non-national and private organizations. Countries like
Argentina, Australia, and United States have set up their respective Services or Agencies to facilitate
hydrographic surveying. Latest innovative technologies are being used for precision in these surveys.
Due to high cost-ratio, scanners technologies are provided to facilitate laser surveyings universal
application.
References:-

http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov
http://www.gisdevelopment.net (Global; Magazine, July 08)
http://ezinarticles.com