WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY
Hydrographyisthescienceofmeasuringand
depictingthoseparametersthatarenecessary
todescribe
theprecisenatureandconfigurationoftheseabed
itsgeographicalrelationshiptothelandmass
thecharacteristicsanddynamicsofthesea.
Theparametersencompassbathymetry,geology,
geophysics,tides,currents,waves,andcertainother
physicalpropertiesofseawater

Hydrographic surveying is the art of collecting

hydrographic data utilizing a skillful blend of
systems and field methodologies. Not something
which can be learned in a classroom!
(USM and UNB Intro to Hydrography, GGE1001)

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 THREE ASPECTS

Coastal hydrography is concerned with the development of ports and

harbours, coastal erosion problems, the utilization of harbour and coastal
conservation services and, especially, the safety of navigation in coastal
waters.

Off-shore hydrography is concerned with (a) the provision of hydrographic

data as an extension of the coastal zone normally encompassing the
continental shelf, (b) the development of mineral deposits, including
hydrocarbons, and (c) provision of data for fisheries management.

Oceanic hydrography is concerned with the acquisition of hydrographic data

in the deep ocean areas for the depiction of sea-floor geomorphology.

(USM and UNB Intro to Hydrography, GGE1001)

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 2001 New Definition of Hydrography

Hydrographyisthetotalsetofspatialdataandinformation,
andtheappliedscienceofitsacquisition,maintainingand
processing,necessarytodescribethetopographical,physical
anddynamicalnatureofthehydrosphereanditsbordersto
thesolidearth,andtheassociatedfacilitiesandstructures.
Task:dataacquisition(butnotjustbathymetry)
Purpose:distributinginformation(forinformeddecision
making),ratherthanconstructingproducts.
HorstHecht,FederalMaritimeandHydrographicAgencyofGermany
(BundesamtfrSeeschiffahrtundHydrographie),May2001:

(USM and UNB Intro to Hydrography, GGE1001)

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Data acquisition

Geophysical Echo
measurements sounding

Coast
lining Waterlevel
measurements n i n g
Pos i t io
Sweep
coverage
Shore
control

(USM and UNB Intro to Hydrography, GGE1001)

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Depth measurement types
(USM and UNB Intro to Hydrography, GGE1001)
P o in t L e ad
line
S w ee p M e cha nica l
w i r e / b a r
sw e e p
P r o fi le V e r t i c a l
b e am
so u n d e r
A n o m a ly d e t e c t io n I n sp e c t ( R O V ,
/ i d e n t i fi c a t i o n d i v e r ,c a m e r a )
A rea A c o u st ic sw e e p ( n o d e p th s ) S i d e sc a n
M u l t i b e a m M a g n e t ic
L I D A R T I B S

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

NOAA Hydrographic Fleet
RAINIER
Seattle, WA
1968 S/V BAY
HYDROGRAPHER
Solomons, MD

FAIRWEATHER
Ketchikan, AK
1968, (2004)

NRTs 6 teams
Nationwide
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Norfolk, VA (1992)

NOAAs Ocean Service

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 A Brief History of NOAA Hydrography

Ferdinand Hassler appointed first superintendent

of the Survey of the Coast in 1816, when first
survey work began. (First soundings were not
collected until 1834!).
During the Civil War, all CS resources used to
support the war effort (earliest roots of NOAA
Corps.commissioned officers needed to lead
field parties because survey parties were attached
to various Army and Navy commands. All Navy
officers were used in the war effort, so officer
status was given to civilians who were leading
survey parties.).

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 A Brief History of NOAA Hydrography

In 1917 (during WWI), the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey

commissioned officer corps was created as Army and Navy
officers were used in the war effort.
WWII: USC&GS used to survey South Pacific Islands in
advance of Marine landings, etc (hostile fire).
In 1966, USC&GS was assimilated into a new agency called
ESSA, along with the National Weather Bureau.
In 1970, ESSA was combined with the Bureau of
Commercial Fisheries, Environmental Data Service,
National Satellite Center, and Research Libraries, to create
NOAA. USC&GS became the National Ocean Service.
1982: Office of Charting and Geodetic Services. 1991: U.S.
Coast and Geodetic Survey. 1994: Office of Coast Survey.

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Hydrographic Data Types
Bathymetry : measure of the deep, data provides
depth contours of the bottom surface.
X,Y = positioning data from Global Positioning
System (GPS)
Z = sounding data from echosounder.
Measures depth of water by time it takes for
sound to transmit and return to transducer.
Time = data used to correct for water level (tide)
at time of data collection
Features: data points, lines, and areas acquired to
delineate natural and man-made charted
features.

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

Why Hydrography is Important

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 SAFE NAVIGATION

National Spatial
Reference System
Nautical Charts
Tides and Currents

Hydrographic Surveys

Research and
Development
Models and New Technologies

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

NOAAs Charting Responsibility

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Historical Perspective

98% by tonnage of all U.S. commer

45% by value (about $500 billion)
50% is hazardous materials

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Size of vessels

Ships now are limited by height, draft, and width of

channel.

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

Bigger, Taller, Longer Ships

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Homeland Security

The Nations ability to quickly respond to an intelligence report that a mine

has been laid on the bottom of a major U.S. harbor is critical to the
continuous flow of maritime commerce.
If a threat condition occurred, the Navy will use the survey data as a
baseline of pre-existing objects so they can utilize their mine counter-
measure assets more effectively to determine if a mine has been placed on
the seafloor.

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Underwater Port Security

NOAA Hydrographic Ships and Navigation

Response Teams have the specialized capability
to collect high resolution imagery of shipping
channels.
The Oceanographer of the Navy requested NOAA Klein 5000
to provide side scan sonar imagery of shipping
channels and harbors to NAVO. Side Scan Sonar
NOAA collected data at 34 strategic commercial
ports.
NAVO collected data at 14 military ports.
NAVO to process and store data.

Detailed Side Scan

Sonar Imagery

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSES

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Critical Areas and Priorities
Defined by apparent risk of incident due to:
Volume, density of traffic, and UKC in relation to bottom type
Age/adequacy of surveys
Petroleum or HAZMAT transport through region
Requests from maritime interests; i.e. USCG, Pilots
Associations, Port Authorities, etc.
Approximately 30,000 SNM critical area remaining
nationwide
NOAA, through ships and contractors, survey
approximately 1300 - 1600 SNM/year with existing
resources and funding levels

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

NOAA Hydrographic Fleet
RAINIER
Seattle, WA S/V BAY
(1968)
HYDROGRAPHER
Solomons, MD

FAIRWEATHER
Ketchikan, AK
1968, (2004)

NRTs 6 teams
Nationwide
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Norfolk, VA (1992)

NOAAs Ocean Service

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009
 Other Hydro-capable NOAA vessels

NANCY FOSTER GLORIA MICHELLE

OSCAR DYSON

HENRY BIGELOW
RONALD BROWN
HIIALAKAI
NOAAs Ocean Service
WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009
 SIDE-SCAN SONAR

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

Shallow Water Multibeam

< TABLE>

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

Phase Differencing Bathymetric Sonar

Benthos C3D
GeoSwath Klein 5410

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 Bottom Coverage & Vintage
by Survey Method

Leadline Single Beam Multi Beam

Pre - 1940 1940 - 1998 1998 - Present

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 NOAAs Navigation Services: Nautical Charting

Annual Coast Pilot & Weekly Chart

Updates
1000 Paper Charts and Raster
Nautical Charts
998 Print-on-Demand
380 Electronic Navigational Charts
(ENCs) posted on the web

6 Navigation Response Teams

Additional teams planned

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 NOAAs Navigation Services: Navigation Response
Teams

Electronic Navigation
Charts

Navigation Response
Teams

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 NOAAs Ocean Service

ENCs integrated with Coast Pilot data

NRT coverage of the contiguous U.S.
Addressing the survey backlog with new technologies:
LIDAR, AUVs, high speed ship launches
Quality Assurance Program
Chart of the Future (UNH Joint Hydrographic Center)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for
Shoreline/Remote Sensing
Streamlining Data Pipeline (survey to chart in 3 mos.)

WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009

 NOAAs Office of Coast Survey

Critical to an MTS Capable of

Supporting U.S. Economic
Growth
www.noaa.gov
WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009
WHAT IS HYDROGRAPHY NOAA Hydro Training 2009