| The hydrographic survey is used to collect | | | | must also be error corrected (bad soundings,) |
| information on navigable water bodies for safe | | | | Once the appropriate correction and adjustments |
| navigation of vessels. For example surveying of | | | | are made to the data, final output charts can be |
| any navigable waters such as lakes and rivers and | | | | created using specialized software including |
| oceans. However, it is mostly used in marine | | | | Autocad package. |
| navigation. Hydrographic surveys are essential and | | | | Data gathered through hydrographic surveys are |
| widely used during planning, design and | | | | useful to navigators. The navigators make use of |
| construction stages of offshore oil fields and | | | | the data such as shore features, depth of water |
| structures. | | | | and the ocean bed, so that they could plan their |
| Some times this type of surveys can be called | | | | navigation while taking into account of the hazards |
| "Hydrography" which involves hydrographical | | | | present in their navigational routes. This type of |
| measurements of tidal, current and wave | | | | surveys were traditionally performed by sea |
| information of oceans. It measures the depth of | | | | vessels using echo sounding or sonar methods. |
| ocean while giving more emphasis on marine | | | | Currently, aircrafts, satellite technology including |
| geographical features that are hazardous to | | | | advanced electronic sensor technology are being |
| navigation. For example, through such surveys, | | | | widely used in hydrographic surveying. In many |
| the position and magnitude of rock outcrops, | | | | countries, the hydrographic surveys are carried |
| shoals, reefs and other attributes that could pose | | | | out by government institutions, however, many |
| a danger to safe ship passage. In addition, | | | | private firms are increasingly taking part in |
| hydrography surveys will capture shore | | | | hydrographic surveying. Hydrographic surveying is |
| characteristics including natural and man made | | | | used extensively for military purposes such as |
| features that help navigation. In essence, A | | | | collection of data and survey of beaches of |
| hydrographic survey will provide accurate | | | | enemy territory before an amphibious landing. |
| information related to the location and formation | | | | Although private firms are involved in many |
| of mountains, hills, rocks and even manmade | | | | hydrographic surveys, it is mostly done under the |
| structures such as lights, towers, lighthouses that | | | | supervision of state organizations of the particular |
| will aid safe navigation. | | | | country. These organizations are responsible for |
| Hydrographic survey involves collection of large | | | | presentation of survey maps, charts and |
| amount of data which needs to be processed, For | | | | distribution in collaboration with International |
| example, a typical Hydrographic survey will | | | | Hydrographic Organization. Such information is |
| generate thousands of date (several soundings | | | | mainly used for sharing and improving reliable |
| per square foot). The data has to be carefully | | | | hydrographic data leading to safe navigation. |
| screened out depending on the purpose of the | | | | Many investors, companies, and universities often |
| final usage such as navigational charts,Digital | | | | employ hydrographic surveys to ascertain the |
| Terrain Modeling, volume calculation, topography or | | | | suitability for development of recreational facilities |
| Bathymetry). Many adjustments or corrections | | | | adjacent to public waterways. The information |
| have to be made on the recorded data owing to | | | | such as minimum depth, wave action, |
| measurement errors due to tides, waves, water | | | | reservations, are collected before developing the |
| levels, and water temperature variations etc. It | | | | facilities adjacent to the waterways. |