Category A Hydrographic Surveying
Careers
As a natural resource of raw materials for fuel and for food, the seas and oceans of the world have never been so important. They also represent a very fragile environment whose exploitation must be carefully and considerately managed. It is the work of the hydrographic surveyor to chart these great wildernesses and to provide the expertise for their exploration and for much of the engineering needed in their development.
Traditionally, the hydrographer is associated with making the sea charts that allow ships to navigate the world in safety. This is still an important role but, as a science and profession, sea surveying has developed into an exciting, multi-disciplinary occupation. The hydrographer is involved with every aspect of ocean data from measuring currents, tides and waves, observing the ocean environment, mapping the ocean floor and exploring for the minerals that lie far beneath. Some of the activities hydrographers are involved with include:
- Exploring for fossil fuels, such as oil and gas [more]
- Offshore engineering and construction [more]
- Charting of the seas and oceans [more]
- Ports, harbours and coastal engineering operations [more]
- Ocean research [more]
- Trans-oceanic telecommunication cables
- Software engineering and development
- Specialisations such as geodesy and delineating maritime limits
- Lakes and inland waterways [more]
- Environmental studies
- Military Hydrography [more]
- Marine Archaeology
Graduates entering the profession today are following in the footsteps of some of the world's most famous explorers such as William Baffin, George Vancouver and Captain James Cook. Unlike their predecessors, today's hydrographic surveyors use high technology instruments to probe the depths, and sophisticated computer systems to map the sea floor; they can even pinpoint their position on the ocean with an accuracy of a few metres.
Reference: The International Marine Contractors Association website Date: 08/10/08