CE-201

Engineering Surveying - II
Lecture – 17
Week 06
Hydrographic Surveys

Engr. Faiza Saeed

1
Department of Civil Engineering - NEDUET
 Hydrographic Surveys – Vertical Control
2. Tidal Gauging:
• Observations of tidal variations from
datum are required through out the
sounding operations for the reduction of
soundings.
• Any datum may be selected but the
common practice is to use the level of
lowest predicted tide known as the lowest
astronomical tide (LAT).
• This datum can be obtained from
available information and existing
benchmarks in developed countries.
• A tide gauge is used to measure changes
in sea level relative to datum.
Engr. Faiza Saeed
Department of Civil Engineering - NEDUET 2
 Hydrographic Surveys
Tides (Most Accessible Reference):
Astronomical tides are the regular rise and fall of the sea surface caused by the
gravitational attraction between the rotating Earth and the moon and sun. The
attractive forces vary because of change in the relative positions of the moon and the
sun relative to the earth. The tidal phenomena are widely different at different places
because of the earth’s irregular land masses and because of the variation of the
depth of water.

WHAT PRODUCES TIDES? CURRENT? WAVES?

Engr. Faiza Saeed

Department of Civil Engineering - NEDUET 3
 Hydrographic Surveys
Types of Tides:
• Ebb tide: It is the seaward tidal flow from high water to low water.

• Flood tide :It is the landward tidal flow from low water to high water.

• Diurnal tides: A single high and a single low tide occur each day. They tend to occur in
certain areas when the moon is at its farthest from the equator.

• Semi-diurnal Tides: Two high and two low waters occur daily and are of relatively
similar ranges. This type is more likely to occur when the moon is over the equator

Engr. Faiza Saeed

Department of Civil Engineering - NEDUET 4
 Hydrographic Surveys
Types of Tides: (Cont.)
• Mixed tides: These tides also tend to occur as the moon moves furthest north or
south of the equator. They are typified by large variances in tidal ranges during the
two daily tides.

• Spring tides: When sun, moon and earth are on same line, then the tides forms are
the highest and are known as spring tides.

• Neap tides: When moon is at the right angle from line of earth and sun, the tides form
have minimum range are called neap tides.

Engr. Faiza Saeed

Department of Civil Engineering - NEDUET 5
 Hydrographic Surveys
Types of Tides: (Cont.)
• Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT): It is the elevation of the highest predicted
astronomical tide expected to occur at a specific tide station.

• Mean Higher High Water (MHHW): It is the average of the higher high water height of
each tidal day observed at particular station.

• Mean High Water (MHW): It is the average of all the high water heights observed over
specific station.

Engr. Faiza Saeed

Department of Civil Engineering - NEDUET 6
 Hydrographic Surveys
Types of Tides: (Cont.)
• Mean Sea Level (MSL): It is the average of all tides heights over a specific station.

• Mean Low Water (MLW): It is the average of all the low water heights observed over
specific station.

• Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW): It is the average of the lower low water height of
each tidal day observed over specific station.

• Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT): It is the elevation of the lowest astronomical

predicted tide expected to occur at a specific tide station.

Engr. Faiza Saeed

Department of Civil Engineering - NEDUET 7
Hydrographic Surveys

Engr. Faiza Saeed

Department of Civil Engineering - NEDUET 8
 Hydrographic Surveys- Horizontal Control
• A survey is controlled horizontally by measuring
horizontal distances and horizontal angles. This type of
survey is often referred to as HORIZONTAL CONTROL
• A system of control stations, must be established to locate the
positions of various points, objects, or details on the surface of
the earth.
• Soundings have to be collected with a consistent position
framework. This framework is the horizontal control.
• This survey can be done by making traverse ,triangulation
,trilateration or aerial photogrammetry.
• We use triangulation system for more precision.
• The type of horizontal control to be provided or used in
hydrographic survey is decided by general topographic,
vegetation cover of the shore, size of water body, i.e. its depth
and width of the costal line etc.
Hydrographic Surveys
Selection of Control:
• If the water body is more than 1km wide it is advisable to run two traverse along
each shore connecting to each other by frequent tie lines.
• If the water body is narrow that is rivers and inlets etc it is advisable to run one
traverse.
• If the shorelines are obscured by vegetation it is advisable to adopt triangulation
system.
• For large lakes and the oceans shore lines the horizontal control consists of a
network of connected triangulation system on shore.
Hydrographic Surveys- Methods of Horizontal Control
Triangulation:
• Technique used in surveying to determine
distances, using the properties of the
triangle.
• To begin, surveyors measure a certain
length exactly to provide a base line.
From each end of this line they then
measure the angle to a distant point,
using a theodolite. They now have a
triangle in which they know the length of
one side and the two adjacent angles. By
simple trigonometry they can work out
the lengths of the other two sides.
 Hydrographic Surveys- Methods of Horizontal Control
Position Fixing Techniques:
• It is done to know the location of the survey vessel in the horizontal plane when a particular
sounding has been measured which is a fundamental requirement for the hydrographic survey.

• There are three methods of position fixing

o Manual
 Double sextant angles observed from the vessel
 Intersection from the theodolite stations on shore
 Constant vessel velocity
 Intersecting range lines

o Electronic
 Electromagnetic position fixing system
o GPS
Hydrographic Surveys- Position Fixing Techniques
1. Double sextant angles observed from the vessel
• Horizontal sextant angles are observed among three shore stations.
• The accuracies attained at distances from the shore of between 200m, mainly depends on
operator’s experience.
• Vessel should be equipped with a plotting board and appropriate equipments.
• The survey team requirements are normally met by four persons: the driver of the vessel,
two sextant angle observers and a plotter and depth recorder.
• A protector of 360 degrees protector with three legs. Setting the angles between three legs
to match the observed sextant angles and then placing all three legs on the plotter sheet
over the shore stations observed ensures that the position of the vessel is at the center of
the protector..
• 1 minute interval is given between the fixes and the operator of plotting instrument should
be able to read the depth and plot the fix and depth with in this period.
• Each sextant angle should be between 20 to 110 degree and the sum of the two angles
should exceed 50 degree.
Hydrographic Surveys- Position Fixing Techniques

2. Intersection from Theodolite Stations on Shore:

• In this method the position of vessel is determined by the two simultaneous
horizontal angles measured by theodolite set up on shore stations.
• As boat proceeds along the sounding line the theodolite observers track the vessel’s
path.
• At that instant fix is required , the boat driver gives a radio signal , the sounding is
recorded on the vessel and observer records the measure angle.
• Each fix is noted by both theodolite operators and the echo sound reader in the
vessel.
Hydrographic Surveys- Position Fixing Techniques

3. Constant Vessel Velocity:

• The vessel travels at a constant velocity
between two shore stations.
• Soundings are taken at regular time
intervals varying from 15 sec to 60 sec
depending upon the level of detail required
for survey.
• Signal flags are used for direction.
• The distance from where boat starts and
stops is measured.
• This method is applicable to lake surveys
centerline profiles of rivers and streams.
Hydrographic Surveys- Position Fixing
Techniques

4. Intersecting Range Lines:

• This method is used when it is necessary
to repeat the soundings at the same points
due to the changes in the bottom due to
sand or silts.
• Fixed range lines are established on shore
and are located to intersect as closely as
possible to right angles.
• The shore stations are permanently
marked usually by iron bars.
• The boat proceeds to the intersection and
takes the sounding.