Hydrographic Survey Management Guidelines

Preface

The advent of satellite positioning, multi-transducer and multibeam echo sounding systems and sophisticated data processing tools have drastically modified the way hydrographic surveys are conducted. Management tools such as ISO 9001 have also had an impact on the methods used to ensure quality assurance.

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) Survey Standing Orders, as they were written in the 1980’s and 1990’s, no longer reflect the standards and the methods of work required to properly conduct a hydrographic survey. After review, the requirements for the completion of a hydrographic survey have been divided into three separate documents.

The CHS Standards for Hydrographic Surveys is the document that specifies the requirements for hydrographic surveys in order that hydrographic data is collected according to specific standards. This document quantifies the accuracies required, depending on the use of the data. All CHS hydrographic surveys must adhere to the various standards listed in this document.

The Quality Management System (QMS) Hydrographic Survey Procedures detail the procedures, the methods, the equipment and the steps required to obtain the accuracies specified in the CHS Standards for Hydrographic Surveys. There may be small regional differences but the regional QMA procedures ensure that the CHS standards are being met.

This document titled Hydrographic Survey Management Guidelines serves as a link between the CHS Standards and the regional QMS Hydrographic Survey Procedures.

This document makes reference to various documents produced and maintained by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. To obtain more information on those documents, please contact the Canadian Hydrographic Service.

Prepared by : Canadian Hydrographic Service
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
February 2021,
Edition 4

Table of Contents

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Hydrographic Survey Instructions
  • 2.1 Field survey instructions
  • 2.2 Survey completion
• 3 Survey Planning
  • 3.1 Data Representation
  • 3.2 Survey order
  • 3.3 Pertinent documents
  • 3.4 Tidal Instructions
• 4 Error management and equipment calibration
  • 4.1 Systematic Errors
    • 4.1.1 Calibration of sounding systems
      • 4.1.1.1 Multi-transducer and Multibeam systems
      • 4.1.1.2 Single beam
  • 4.2 Random Errors
    • 4.2.1 Total Propagated Uncertainty (TPU)
  • 4.3 Blunders
    • 4.3.1 CUBE (Combined Uncertainty and Bathymetry Estimator)
• 5 Mobilization
  • 5.1 Horizontal Control
    • 5.1.1 Permanently marked horizontal control points
    • 5.1.2 Station description
  • 5.2 Vertical Datum
    • 5.2.1 Water level gauges and bench marks
    • 5.2.2 Permanently marked vertical control points (e.g. bench marks)
    • 5.2.3 Bench mark descriptions
  • 5.3 Positioning system
    • 5.3.1 Real-time GPS method
    • 5.3.2 Post-processing GPS method
    • 5.3.3 Positioning Quality Assurance
  • 5.4 Final check
• 6 Data acquisition and processing
  • 6.1 Bathymetry
    • 6.1.1 Corrections for sound speed
      • 6.1.1.1 Bar check (for MTES and SBES systems)
      • 6.1.1.2 Sound speed profiling (for MTES and SBES systems; mandatory for MBES)
    • 6.1.2 Static and dynamic draft
    • 6.1.3 Heave, pitch, roll and yaw
    • 6.1.4 Positioning
    • 6.1.5 Single beam work
    • 6.1.6 Multi-transducer work
    • 6.1.7 Multibeam work
    • 6.1.8 Side scan sonar work
    • 6.1.9 Interferometric work
    • 6.1.10 Airborne (LIDAR) work
    • 6.1.11 Spot soundings
    • 6.1.12 Shoal examination
    • 6.1.13 Check lines
    • 6.1.14 Track and reconnaissance survey
    • 6.1.15 Reducing soundings to datum from water level survey
      • 6.1.15.1 Reducing soundings to datum from Real-Time Kinematics’ (RTK) Differential GPS Surveys
  • 6.2 Navigational aids
    • 6.2.1 Fixed aids
    • 6.2.2 Floating aids
    • 6.2.3 Ranges
    • 6.2.4 Sector lights
  • 6.3 Wrecks and obstructions
    • 6.3.1 Position of wrecks and obstructions
    • 6.3.2 Least depth over wreck
  • 6.4 Submerged cables and pipelines
  • 6.5 Clearances
  • 6.6 Conspicuous objects
  • 6.7 Elevations
  • 6.8 Seafloor classification
  • 6.9 Shorelining
  • 6.10 Revisory survey
    • 6.10.1 Revisory work during a standard hydrographic survey
    • 6.10.2 Revisory work for Nautical Publication
  • 6.11 Sailing Directions
  • 6.12 Chart nomenclature
  • 6.13 Use of photographs
    • 6.13.1 General use
    • 6.13.2 Coastal photographs for Sailing Directions
  • 6.14 Current measurements
  • 6.15 Field checking (before leaving the field)
    • 6.15.1 Bathymetry
    • 6.15.2 Other Data
  • 6.16 Other computations
• 7 Quality control
  • 7.1 Bathymetry
    • 7.1.1 Overlap of surveys
  • 7.2 Other computations
• 8 Data rendering and submission
• 9 Reporting
  • 9.1 Reporting Dangers to Navigation
  • 9.2 Progress reports
  • 9.3 Project report
  • 9.4 Technical and other special reports
  • 9.5 Reporting accidents
• 10 Abbreviations, Acronyms, Definitions, and Terms