Hydrographic Training

About the Courses

Courses can be accommodated at an SAIC facility, at a customer site, or in conjunction with an event such as a conference. Courses are held on demand and are between 3–5 days in duration. Costs are determined by class size and location.

We offer two courses. Our Training for the Hydrographic Surveyor course provides an informative refresher for the professional hydrographer, while our Training for the Non-Hydrographic Surveyor course presents an introduction to hydrography for such professionals as environmental planners, coastline managers, port authorities, and others.

Training for the Hydrographic Surveyor

Designed for the experienced hydrographer, this seminar presents the latest advancements of various aspects of marine survey. Discussions will range from appropriate datum usage and choosing the correct equipment for the survey to the challenges in meeting internationally agreed-upon error budgets in a highly dynamic environment. Hydrographic survey data will be explored against a background of charting, environmental monitoring, dredging, and delineation of U.S. coastal margins.

There are no prerequisites, however we recommend that students enrolled in the Training for the Hydrographic Surveyor course have at least one year of experience collecting hydrographic data such as multibeam or singlebeam and sidescan sonar.

Subjects covered:

• Survey specifications
• Types of surveys
• Survey accuracy
• Survey planning
• Basic geodesy
• Acoustic principles
• Sidescan sonar

• Singlebeam echosounder
• Multibeam echosounder
• Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)
• Tide fundamentals
• Tide datums
• The nautical chart
• Reports of survey

Training for the Hydrographic Non-Surveyor

This seminar is an introduction to the fundamental science and techniques of modern hydrography. The course covers the basic requirements to collect depth data that are accurately positioned to internationally agreed-upon standards. It will also cover the environmental and engineering challenges that must be overcome. A brief look at other types of information typically collected will be included, as will a review of commonly used generic equipment, data sets, and products for various end users.

Students will be encouraged to participate in group discussions about the variety of effects that hydrographic data have on their industry, and the environmental and economic leverage such data can apply to successful trade, contract award, site safety management, and homeland security issues.

Subjects covered:

• Historical development
• Survey specifications
• Types of surveys
• Survey accuracy
• Basic geodesy
• Global Positioning System (GPS)

• Acoustic principles
• Sidescan sonar
• Singlebeam echosounder
• Multibeam echosounders
• Tide fundamentals
• Reports of survey