HYDROGRAPHIC PROGRAMS - U.S. GOVERNMENT
U.S. Army Corps of EngineersThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (USACE) is rated one of the best hydrographic sites, because of their policy of making their numerous manuals and procedures openly available for downloading in PDF format. Click here for a list of the publications. Near the top of this page you will find instructions for ordering printed copies (free of charge in the U.S.). Most of the relevant manuals are found under "Engineer Manuals" and then "Civil Works".
A "must have" manual is the Jan 02 Edition of Engineering and Design - Hydrographic Surveying Manual. Follow the link on our References page.
Be sure to visit the Topographic Engineering Center (TEC) and TEC's Surveying Engineering and Mapping Center of Expertise for info on free software and other publications.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNOAA's National Ocean Service is the home of three offices that provide infomation important to hydrography; Nautical Charts (Office of Coast Survey), information on Tides and Water Levels (Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services), and the National Spatial Reference System (National Geodetic Survey).
The Coast Survey is the Nation's official Chartmaker. It is the oldest scientific organization dating back to 1807. For a bit of Coast Survey history. One of four Divisions within the Coast Survey, is the Hydrographic Surveys Division. This site contains numerous references to information on hydrographic surveying as it pertains to nautical charting. Be sure to check out recent technical papers.
A second Division within Coast Survey is the Coast Survey Development Laboratory (CSDL). Within CSDL is the Hydrographic Systems and Technology Programs (HSTP). Visit HSTP to learn about their Lidar, GPS, and Multibeam programs.
The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) collects, analyzes and distributes historical and real-time observations and predictions of water levels, coastal currents and other meteorological and oceanographic data. You can view Near Real-time Tides and see how they compare with Predicted Tides by clicking on Tides Online on the opening page.
The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) develops and maintains the National Spatial Reference System. This system is a consistent national coordinate system that specifies latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the Nation. There is lots of good stuff on this site. Be sure to checkout software which can be downloaded.
Naval Oceanographic OfficeThe Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), located at John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, is comprised of approximately 1,100 civilian, military and contract personnel responsible for providing oceanographic products and services to all elements within the Department of Defense.
NAVOCEANO is the largest subordinate command under the Commander, Meteorology and Oceanography Command which is a third echelon operational command reporting to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Their headquarters is also located at John C. Stennis Space Center.
U.S. Coast GuardThe Navigation Center (NAVCEN) is the United States Coast Guard's Navigation Center of Excellence. NAVCEN is located in Alexandria, VA, south of the Washington Beltway, on the grounds of the Coast Guard Telecommunications and Information Systems Command (TISCOM) facility.
NAVCEN operates the Navigation Information Service (NIS), the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS), and LORAN. In addition, NAVCEN serves as the civilian interface for the Global Positioning System and manages other navigation-related projects
. A collection of links concerning Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection.
National Geospacial-Intelligence AgencyThe National Geospatial-Intelliegnce Agency provides geospspatial intelligence in support of national security objectives.
Its' Maritime Safety Information center collects, evaluates, and compile worldwide marine navigation products and databases.
U.S. Geological SurveyThe Coastal and Marine Geology Program is the home for hydrography in the U.S. Geological Survey.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) located in Boulder, Colorado, provides scientific stewardship, products, and services for geophysical data.
Information on obtaining NOAA's digital hydrographic surveys (GEODAS) is available on this site.
The Geospatial Data Clearinghouse is a collection of over 250 spatial data servers, that have digital geographic data primarily for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) , image processing systems, and other modeling software. These data collections can be searched through a single interface based on their descriptions or "metadata".
The University of New BrunswickThe University of New Brunswick's (Canada), Ocean Mapping Group , hosts a vast amount of information on multibeam sonar technology. Under the leadership of the legendary Dr. John Hughes Clark this site is one to bookmark for regular return visits !!
The University of New Hampshire, in cooperation with NOAA's Ocean Service, established the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (C-COM)/ Joint Hydrographic Center (JHC) aimed at creating a national center for expertise in ocean mapping and hydrographic sciences.
The center offers Ocean Mapping options on the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Ocean Engineering and Earth Sciences. The program has been certified by the FIG/IHO at the Category A level.
The University of Southern MississippiThe University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Marine Science offers a unique opportunity for hydrographers seeking a master's degree in hydrographic science. This one-year master's program is certified by the FIG/IHO at the Category A level. To advance research in the field of hydrography, Southern Miss created the Hydrographic Science Research Center to develop new ocean charting and navigation technology.
Hydrographer Certification in the United States is under the auspices of the
American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). The certification program receives more than half of its' funding support from The Hydrographic Society of America. Prospective examinees must have five years of experience in hydrographic surveying, two years of which have been in technical charge of surveys in the field. Applications, which require a short essay on the fundamentals of hydrography, must be reviewed and approved by the Hydrographer Certification Board prior to sitting for the examination.
The examination lasts three hours and consists of multiple choice and short answer questions covering a wide variety of topics suggested by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG).
Contact ACSM at 6 Montgomery Village Avenue, Suite #403, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879. Phone (240) 632-9716; FAX (240) 632-1321. For program details,visit ACSM/NSPS .
Canadian Hydrographic AssociationThe Canadian Hydrographic Association (CHA) is the focal point of hydrography in Canada. International members are welcome! A recent article (here with permission) in Lighthouse,the Journal of CHA, by Steve McPhee and Rob Hare, discusses suggested changes to IHO S-44 to make it more effective for multibeam surveys.
For the History of Hydrography in Canada visit the CHA related web site, Friends of Hydrography
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) was originally established in 1921 as the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB). The present name was adopted in 1970 as a result of a revised international agreement among member nations. However, the former name (IHB) was retained for the IHO's administrative body of three Directors and staff at the headquarters in Monaco.The IHO sets forth hydrographic standards as they are agreed upon by the member nations. All member nations are urged to follow these standards in their surveys, nautical charts and publications.
Many of the IHO Publications are free to the public and may be downloaded from their website.
Links to the Member States. See also Hong Kong.
The International Federation of SurveyorsThe International Federation of Surveyors is an international, non-government organisation whose purpose is to support international collaboration for the progress of surveying in all fields and applications.
FIG (Federation International Geometrique) was founded in 1878 in Paris. It is a federation of national associations and is the only international body that represents all surveying disciplines. It is a UN-recognised non-government organisation (NGO) and its aim is to ensure that the disciplines of surveying and all who practise them meet the needs of the markets and communities that they serve. It realises its aim by promoting the practice of the profession and encouraging the development of professional standards.
FIG is comprised of 10 Commissions. Commission 4 - Hydrography, focuses on the marine environment; hydrographic surveying; data processing and management; nautical charts and bathymetric maps – analogue, digital and electronic; other associated tasks.
International Federation of Hydrographic SocietiesIn 2004, the former Hydrographic Society (International) devolved into national societies under the umbrella of the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (IFHS), headquartered in Plymouth, England.
The current IFHS national societies are:
The Australasian Hydrographic Society (HSA),
Hydrographic Society Denmark (HSD),
Hydrographic Society of South Africa (HSSA) and
The Hydrographic Society UK (HSUK).
Other National Hydrographic Societies
German Hydrographic Society (DHyG)
Hydrographic Society Russia (HSR).