Hydrographic Surveys: Lesson 34

Hydrographic
Surveys
LESSON 34
Hydrographic Surveying
● Is the process employed in gathering information concerning any body of
water and its adjacent land areas.
Purposes:
● Providing data for the preparation of hydrographic maps and nautical

charts needed in navigation, harbor improvement, yardage and dredging
project.
● Flood control, water supply, hydro-electric power development, pipeline
and underground crossing and irrigation.
● Obtaining informations needed for the design of bridges, dams, seawalls,
culverts, sewage disposal plants, lighthouses, docks and other structures.
● Determining the volume of impounded water, direction and velocity of
current, drainage areas, and the capacity of a containing basin.
● Gathering data needed for the establishment of tidal datums.
● Locating navigational hazards such as submerged obstructions, sunken
vessels, sand bars, rocks, shoals, and coral reefs.
Hydrographic Survey Terms
● Hydrography - is a study, description, and mapping of oceans, seas, lakes,
and rivers, especially with the reference through their navigational and
commercial or other uses.
● Sounding - the process of measuring the depth of a body of water.
● Stream Gaging - measurement for the purpose of predicting the rate of
discharge at various water levels or stages.
● Fathom - a unit of length equal to six feet (approximately 1.8 m), chiefly
used in reference to the depth of water.
● Hydrographic Chart - a map or chart used in navigation, similar to
topographic map except that water depth, navigational markers, and the
character of underwater surface are indicated.
● Tidal Datums - specific tide levels which are used as surfaces of reference
for depth measurements in the sea and as a base for the determination of
elevation on land.
● Discharge - the volume of water flowing past, a section of a stream, canal,
flume, and other waterways. (cubic meter per second)
● Stream - a current or steady flow of water running along the earth’s
surface.
● Dredging - the process of scooping or suckling up mud, sand, rocks and
other material underwater for the purpose of enlarging, deepening or
clearing channels, harbors, rivers, and other bodies of water.
● Subaqueous Contour - an imaginary line on the surface of the earth found
under water. (all points of which are of the same elevation)
The Hydrographic Survey
● Is characterized by the of observations and measurements which are
undertaken to determine and subsequently portray the topography above
and beneath the water surface.
Basic operations involed:
● Reconnaissance - is done to select the most suitable manner of executing

the survey and in planning all phases of work. (performed by ground, on
water, or by air)
● Establishment of Horizontal Control - by which land and water features
are held their true relationship to each other. It is desirable to take sights
on all objects which will be useful as control point for the topographic
survey of the nearby land area.
● Establishment of Vertical Control - it must first defined in order that the
elevation of the water surface can be correctly referenced. Also needed for
the limited topography will be portrayed on nautical chart.
● Topographic Survey - to collect survey data about the natural and man-
made features of the land, as well as its elevations.
● Hydrography - the measurement of water depths and establishing their
respective locations.
● Preparation of Hydrographic Map - consisted of the calculation of water
contained in a body of water, amount of dredged material, discharge of a
stream, or the fluctuation of level in a body of water.
Equipment for Hydrography
● Sounding Craft - includes rowboats,
motor launches, and small vessels like
fishing vessels. (small boats or bancas
are commonly used only in limited
surveys and where the water is calm)
● Sounding Pole - about 3 meters long
graduated and rounded piece of lumber
used for sounding. (suitable for use
where the water depth does not exceed
to 2.5 merers)
● Leadline - is usually a length of
Hemp cord, braided flax, or nylon
cord, with a sounding lead attached
to one end, used for depths greater
than 25 fathoms. It is lowered until
it touches the bottom, and at the
moment that the line is vertical and
taut, the depth is determined from
the markings of the leadline.
● Sounding Machine - it is used when
the depth of the water is too great to
permit the use of leadline.
● Fathometer - is a measuring device which
automatically records a sounding taken on
a moving vessel. (suitable for use in
coastal or deep waters) Records the time
required for a sound wave reach the
bottom and for the echo wave to
comeback.
● Signals - are constructed in variety of
ways but they should be seen easily and
easily distinguished from each other.
(used for sights) must be suffciently
conspicuous distinguished readily in the
mirror of the sextant.
● Tide Gage - are instruments for
measuring the height of the tides.
2 General Groups
● Non-recording gages - require the

presence of an attendant to observe
and record the height of the tide.
● Automatic or Self-registering gages
- provide a continuous record of
the variation of the tide level with
the passage of time.
● Sextant - is a portable and hand-held instrument used for measuring
horizontal and vertical angles. It functions by the physical principle that a
light ray striking a plane mirror causes the angles of incidence and
reflection to be equal.
Sextant - is well suited to hydrographic work and has the added advantage of
measuring angle in any plane.
- device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to

determine latitude and longitude.
Arigathanks
Gozaimuch
:)

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Hydrographic

● Providing data for the preparation of hydrographic maps and nautical

Basic operations involed:

● Reconnaissance - is done to select the most suitable manner of executing

● Non-recording gages - require the

- device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to

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