Hydrographic surveys

A hydrographic survey measures and studies underwater features and activities. This includes tasks such as navigating ships, marine construction, removing silt from the bottom of water bodies, setting up wind farms at sea, and exploring and drilling for offshore oil.

We offer services such as measuring water depth using light detection (lidar bathymetry), using sound waves to map underwater areas (acoustic surveys), and analysing satellite images. Our clients, which include both government agencies and private companies, use these services for creating detailed maps for navigation, planning routes for underwater cables, and coastal zone management.

Our expert team provides highly accurate maps and data, offering valuable insights and efficient solutions for your projects with our advanced technologies.

Hydrographic surveys are important for a variety of reasons, which affect a range of industries and requirements.

Hydrographic surveys ensure safe navigation by providing accurate depth information of water bodies so when planning routs ships can make decisions on the safest route. They also support activities like port maintenance, coastal engineering, and offshore resource development as well as supporting environmental protection and health to ensure the protection of our all important ecosystems.

This type of survey plays a vital role in the global economy by supporting maritime infrastructure like like ports, docks, navigational aids, offshore platforms, and terminals where goods and people are transferred.

"Bathymetric" and "Hydrographic" are both methods to map underwater areas (marine topography), but there is a difference between the two surveys. While closely related, these methods serve distinct purposes in mapping and exploring the underwater landscape. 

We use a bathymetry survey to map the underwater landform shape and depth of the seabed. Bathymetric maps are like topographic maps, but for underwater landscapes. They use colors and lines to show different depths of the ocean floor.

Hydrography is the science of measuring and characterising bodies of water and their surrounding environments. Hydrographic surveys give a detailed view of the water column, including ocean depths, shorelines, and water composition. 

A multibeam bathymetric survey is a method used to map the underwater terrain of bodies of water. This survey is also known as an MBES survey.

This method uses a multibeam echosounder. Which uses sound waves in a fan shape to calculate the water depth and looks at the 'solidness' of the sea floor. We use mbes surveys as they can be faster to conduct and provide a more accurate picture for your business.

These sound waves travel through the water and bounce back (echo) when they hit the seafloor or any underwater object. The time it takes for each sound wave to return is measured, which helps determine the distance to the seafloor. The multiple beams cover a wide area, allowing for detailed mapping in a single pass. We can create a 3D map of what is under the ocean floor to show the underwater landscape clearly, helping you understand the underwater landscape better.