B AT H Y M E T RY

MRS500
Hydrographic Survey
Chapter 4

Naim Aziz
Chapter Outline
Definition of Bathymetry and its importance (What & Why?)
Nautical Chart (What?)
Measuring Depth (How?)
Minimum Standards & Example
ECDIS
Synonym to Hydrography
Ancient Greek
Hydro = Water ; and Graphy = “ To write”

Hydrography is a branch of applied science which generally refers to the measurement &
description of physical features of any water and marginal land, as well as with prediction of their
change over time. Specifically, focuses on navigable waters for safe navigation of vessels.

Measurement depths, the tides, and currents & wave in a water column
Description of establishment of bed topography and morphology (bathymetry), shore
Physical features features (natural & manmade), marine geographical
Water coastal areas, seas, oceans, lakes and rivers
hazard such as rocks, shoals, reefs and other features that obstruct ship passage,
Navigation
effective anchoring
The aim is to map the sea for vessel navigation
Bathymetry
 A bathymetry is the mapping Process of the water area with surrounding detail.

Parameter Description
Time and Position Accurate time and positions (latitude & longitude)
Depth of Water Indicate by soundings (echosounder), height and depth contours
Geographic Representations of hills, mountains and even lights and towers that will
Location aid in fixing a ship's position
Bottom Type Various irregularities below the sea surface
*enables a cartographer to portray a part of the Earth's surface on a flat piece of paper

 All other marine purposes and activities

 offshore activities, economic development, security and defense, research, protection of the marine environment and
prediction services.
Nautical Chart
One of the most fundamental tools
available to the mariner

Depending on the scale of the chart it may

show details of the area
• Depths & height
• Seabed type
• Navigation hazard
• Structures (natural & manmade)
• harbors
Differences
NAUTICAL CHART MAP
working document static document

a very detailed and accurate representation emphasizes landforms

of the coastline shoreline represented much less accurately
varying tidal levels and water forms
indicate a surface path
detailed information on the area beneath providing no information of the condition of
the water surface the surface path.

It is used to plot courses for navigators to serves as a reference guide

follow
very critical for the safe and efficient
navigation
Measuring water depth - Tidal level
Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT)
 By definition, LAT is the lowest level that can be predicted to occur under average meteorological
conditions and under any combination of astronomical conditions.
 There is no simple formula or rule available to calculate LAT from observations or tidal constituents.
 It can only be obtained properly by studying tidal predictions covering several years (18.6 years ideally), as
the level of LAT will not be reached every year.

Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT)

 HAT is the highest level which can be predicted to occur under average meteorology condition and under
any combination of astronomical conditions.
 The mean of the higher of the two daily high waters experienced over a periods.
 For the area have a mainly diurnal tide.
 BM
Tide TBM Water
Pole level

TBM

Top-Pipe
Height of
Sensor
Installation of digital tide
Tide
reading
gauge
Transferring Reduced Level
from BM to on top of tide
Sensor tide gauge
pole

Seabed
Reduced Depth Refer to Land Survey Datum (LSD)

Tide Gauge

Water level
Reduced Tide refer to
LSD/Reduced
LSD
Depth =
tide
Measured Measured
Depth – Tide Reduced Depth
Refer to LSD / Depth
Reduced Tide
Land Survey Datum (LSD)

• For the engineering project

• Usually use the vertical datum from established BM
• LSD is differing than MSL because reduced level from established BM is refer to MSL at Port
Kelang.
• Reduced sounding refer to LSD can merge with land details refer to vertical datum from
established BM.
• Thus, MSL value is difference at each location.
Charted Depth Refer to Chart Datum (CD)

Tide Gauge

Charted Depth =
Water level
Measured
Depth – Tide
Refer to CD / Tide refer to
Charted Tide CD / Charted Measure
Tide depth

Chart datum (CD)

Charted
depth
Chart Datum (CD)
• This is the datum plane that is adopted by the national authority for its published chart and tidal predictions.
• The datum is only used around of tidal observation.
• Its has different value at each locations.
• Depend on the range of tidal or water level.
• It will only be the same as the Sounding Datum when the Hydrographic Office has analysed the survey data
and confirmed the suitability of field surveyor’s choice. The surveyor CANNOT establish Chart Datum in the
field.
• Chart Datum is defined by the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB) as a level below which the tide will
but seldom fall.
• In non-tidal waters, CD is normally established at MSL.
• Because LAT is so difficult to define precisely, chart datum for Admiralty has been more broadly defined as the
level below which no predicted tide shall fall by more than 0.1 m.
Sounding Datum (SD)

This is the datum plane to which soundings are reduced in the course of a hydrographic survey and
is therefore the datum used when compiling the Fair Chart or Final Tracing.

It is the datum which the field surveyor will ESTABLISH and ADOPT.

Ideally Sounding Datum should be the same as Chart Datum but, may well differ particularly
when the original survey is very old.
METHODS OF OBTAINING SOUNDING DATUM
There are several methods of obtaining sounding datum. One of these methods is to be used when
establishing datum:

1. Recover a previously established Sounding or Chart Datum in the survey

area by levelling from benchmarks.
2. Transfer datum from a place close to the survey area where CD or SD is
already established, by taking simultaneous tidal observations over a period.
3. Establish a new datum from observations.
SELECTION OF SOUNDING DATUM
• The datum should be low enough for the navigator/mariner to be confident that, under normal
weather conditions, there is always at least as much water as is shown on the chart.

• The datum should not be so low that it gives an unrepresentative idea of the least depth of water
likely to be found.

• The datum should agree with the established level of Chart Datum, if possible, but this should not
delay the start of the survey. If necessary, the chosen datum can be amended in light of a long period
of observation and analysis.

• The datum should be in harmony with the datums of adjacent surveys

• Care must be taken not to establish datum by erecting a pole/gauge where the water becomes
impounded at LW.
Data Correction Considerations
Minimum Standards
Minimum Standards
Hydrographic Survey of small-scale area
6,000m x 2,000m at 20m spacing with 500m
checkline as shown in diagram.

Number of sounding line = (2,000/20) + 1

= 101 lines
Total distance of sounding line = 101 x 6km
=606km 632 km with speed
Number of cross/check line = (6000/500) + 1 7.41 km/h = ~84h

= 13 lines
Total distance of check line = 13 x 2km
= 26km
Total distance sounding and check line = 606km + 26 km
= 632km
 Example for additional another
purposes of study or data collection
planning:

1. Current recording
2. Water level (tidal) measurement,
analysis and prediction
3. Samplings

Location of current meters and Location of samplings

water level measurements.
Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS)
Computer-based navigation information
system

ECDIS system displays

• The information from electronic navigational
charts (ENC)
• Integrates position information from the
Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Navigational sensors, such as radar and
automatic identification systems (AIS)
• Sailing Directions.
Information other than Elements of chart Characteristic of digital
paper charts display information
• plots of ship positions • adjustable displaying • selectable of display
• warning to dangers brightness to the bridge contents
• superimposing with environment • enlargement/reduction
Radar and other • auto scrolling of chart of display contents
images, etc. area on the course • storing up and re-
• auto loading of accessing to logbooks,
necessary charts, etc. etc
Notice to Mariners
• A notice to mariners is weekly notices concerning changes in navigation matters that are used
by mariners to keep their charts updated regularly; NTM for short

• Advises mariners of important matters affecting navigational safety, including new hydrographic
information, changes in channels and aids to navigation, and other important data.

• Over 60 countries which produce nautical charts also produce a notice to mariners. About one
third of these are weekly, another third are bi-monthly or monthly, and the rest irregularly
issued according to need. For example, the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office issues weekly
updates.
 • What is the relationship between Hydrographic Survey
and Bathymetry?
• What are the differences between nautical chart and
topography map?
Discussion • What are the types of correction involved in
developing reliable bathymetric surface?
• What are the minimum standards relation to the
hydrographic survey planning?
Thank You

End of Chapter