HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY

Introduction

What is hydrographic survey?

From hydro (water) and graphic (image) based on early measurement

about depth of streamflow, canal and lake.
Graphic can be represented by chart and process of accumulated of data is
known as hydrographic survey.

Definition:
A survey having for its principal purpose the determination of data relating to
bodies of water. A hydrographic survey may consist of the determination of one or
several of the following classes of data:
depth of water;
configuration and nature of the bottom;
directions and force of currents;
heights and times of tides and water stages; and
location of topographic features and fixed objects for survey and
navigation purposes.
(IHO, 1994)

The types and purpose of the various branches of hydrographic surveying may be
summarized as follows:

i.

Measurement of tides for sea coast work, such as the constructs (sea
defense works, jetties and harbours, for the establishment of a levelling
datum, and for reducing sounding.

ii.

Determination of bed depths, by soundings:

a. for navigation, i.e. for 'tow' out routes for production platforms but
also including the location of rocks, sand bars, navigation lights and
buoys;
b. for the location of underwater works, volumes of underwater
excavation etc.;
c. in connection with irrigation and land-drainage schemes;

iii.

Determination of direction of current in connection with:

a. the location of sewer outfalls and similar works;
b. determination of areas subject to scour and silt;
c. for navigational purposes;

iv.

Measurement of quantity of water, and flow of water - in connection with

water schemes, power schemes, and flood control etc.

Survey Method and Equipment

1. Positioning:
The purpose is to determine the position of point in water.
a. GPS a modern system that determine the position by utilize the
function of several satelites , rangefinder, sextant (establish position
by measuring the height of stars from the horizon)
2. Discharges: Quantity of water
a. Firstly, determine the velocity of water over the area of discharge
with:
i. Floats method where the velocity of surface or subsurface of
flow is determine.
ii. Current meters, hand held equipment to record the velocity
iii. Electromagnetic sensors, modern equipment to determine the
velocity
3. Bed levels:To determine the level (RL) of the bed by using
a. Sounding rod (similar to ranging rod) and cable anchored to small
boat, or echo sounder.
4. Bed sediment transport
To determine the amount of sediment and characteristic of sampler below
the surface of water.
a. Various sampler (bed loads sampler (sample of load), suspended
particle sampler etc.)

Hydrographic survey can be divided into:

1. Rain gauging: method to determine the amount of rainfall over particular area
2. River gauging: method to determine the depth, velocity and discharge of flow
3. Marine survey: Survey relating to a coast

RAIN GAUGING
A. Necessity
To record the amount of rainfall in the catchment area. A basin or a river.
To predict the probable run-off through the basin.
To forecast flood in the downstream area.
To prepare necessary precautions to avert disaster
B. Location of Site for Rain Gauge Station
The recommended network of rain gauge stations depends on the area.
One rain gauge: for every 500 km2 for plane area, every 150 km2 for hilly areas.
The following points should be remembered in selecting rain gauge stations:
They should be established on level ground and not on sloping
They should not be close to any permanent structure or tree
They should be protected from high winds
They should be accessible

C. Measurement of Rainfall
Two types of recorder:
i. non-recording type (Symonss rain gauge)
ii. Recording type or automatic rain gauge.
I.

Symonss rain gauge

Consists of a metal cylindrical casing of diameter 127 mm and height 305

mm. C
It is secured in a concrete foundation. D
The cylinder consists of a brass rim on the top. C
A glass receiving bottle of diameter 100 mm and height 203 mm is inserted
into the casing. B
A funnel of diameter 127 mm is placed on the glass bottle so that the top of
the funnel is just flush with the brass rim. A
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Method
The rain water is collected in the glass bottle.
A graduated measuring glass cylinder measuring rainfall to the extent of 0.2
mm.
Reading is taken once in 24 hours at 8.30 a.m. every day.
During heavy rainfall, readings are taken three or four times in a day,
because the receiving glass bottle may overflow.
A register maintained and reported data sent to the concerned office i.e.
DID.

RIVER- GAUGING
Activities involved in river gauging are:
a) Selection of discharge site
b) Setting of gauge post
c) Measure depth of water
d) Measure of velocity of water
e) Measure the cross sectional area of river
f) Measure the discharge of water

A. Necessity
Involve the measurement discharge of a river and the establishment of
gauge post on river banks.
River gauging is undertaken for the following reasons.
a) To identify high flow level so a warning system may be alarmed.
b) To fix the number of spans of road and railway bridges
c) To fix the height of the guide bank
d) To fix the spillway level of dam or barrage
e) To design the cross drainage when canal cross a river

B. Selection of Discharge Site

The river should be straight for a minimum length of about 500 m or 4
times its width

 The section of the discharge site should be well-defined.

The flow should be confined to a single channel. Island is not allowed

The centre line AA of the discharge site is marked with targets on both
banks

C. Fixing the gauge post

Made of wood (cross section 10 cm x 5 cm and length 2 m, graduated in
meters.
Minimum reading up to 0.01 m.
Fixed in series on a concrete foundation.
Zero start at bottom.
RL of the zero mark is determined by fly levelling.

D. Measurement of Depth of water

1. Sounding rod

Suitable for: measuring depth up to 2 meter from water surface and at low
velocity of streamflow.
Made of: wooden, bamboo or steel pole of 5 cm in diameter and 2.5 m
length.
It is provided with the disc of 15 to 20 cm diameter at the bottom
It is scaled every 1/10th in meter i.e. every 10 cm.
Method: rod is immersed until disc touch the river bed, reading is noted at
scale.

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2. Sounding Cable

Suitable for: measuring depth 2 to 10 meter from water surface and at

medium to high velocity of streamflow.
Made of: long steel rope or cable attached with 5 kg counter weight.
It is provided with pulley system attach to the boat.
Method: rope/cable is immersed until weight touch the river bed, mark is
made on the rope. Measure the length using tape.

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3. Echo Sounder

Suitable for: measuring depth more than 10 meter and seas.

Made of electrical instrument i.e. produced sound.
Echo sounder is placed just at the water surface.
Concept:
o Sound waves are reflected from sea bed and receive by echo
sounder.
o System will record the travel time and calculate depth of water based
on:
=

= 1470 /

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E. Measurement of velocity of water

I.

The surface float method

Made of cork so that it can float easily on water, size of 10 cm cubes.

Painted red or white and attached with flag.
Method: At discharge site, poles are setup at both river banks. River is
divided with several sections known as compartment and tagged with
flag/pendants.

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 At discharge site, floats are released at c/s 1 and stopwatch is started.

When it reaches c/s 2, stopwatch is stop and time is recorded.

Procedures are repeated for other compartment. Average velocity is

calculated.
Advantages: Fast and easy method.
Disadvantages: Only calculate velocity on the surface.

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II.

The sub-surface float method

Made of: a hollow cylinder.

Surface float is attached together with sub-surfaced float
Position of sub-float is 0.2D meters above river bed. D is depth of water.
Measure velocity is equal to mean velocity.
III.

The velocity rod method

Made of: hollow metal or wood. 2.5 to 5 meter in diameter.

Weight is provided at bottom to make it vertical.
The length is adjustable depend on depth of river, usually at 0.6D.

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IV.

The Pitot tube method

The upper part is tube that open and kept above water level.
The lower part of Pitot tube in the form of nozzle bends about 90.
The pitot is held in the midpoint of every compartment.
Due to velocity of water, the water rises in the right tube, i.e. h.
Velocity is calculated based on Bernoulli theorem:
= 2

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V.

The current float method

Commonly for measuring the velocity of water

a) A tail which keeps the meter in the direction of alignment.

b) A system of conical buckets fitted to a spindle which rotates due to current.
c) A counterweight which keeps the meter vertical.
d) A headphone for registering the sound produced by the spindle at every
revolution

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 The current meter is lowered to a depth of 0.6D by cable.

Due to the velocity of water, the system of conical rotates about the
spindle and a `tick' sound is emitted once for every revolution.
The number of revolutions per minute is counted with the help of a
stopwatch.
The velocity can be ascertained from the rating table (supplied by the
manufacturer).
This velocity gives the mean velocity of flow.

The current meter is immersed at the midpoint of every

compartment.

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F. Measuring the cross sectional area of river

I.

Case 1 When the river is small

Two poles are fixed on both banks and rope is stretched between them.
The cross section of river is divided into several compartments of equal
width, b marked with tagged/pendants.
Depth below each tagged are measured using sounding rod or cable.
Calculation of area: 1st and last compartment considered as triangles
and other compartment as trapezium.

1 =
2 =

1
1
2

1
(1 + 2)
2

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II.

Case 2 When the river is large

The centre line AB is taken perpendicular to the river.

Two pegs T1 and T2 are fixed on AB.
Theodolite is set at A, width of river is measured by stadia method.
Width is divided into equal parts and fixed. AP1, P1-P2, P3-P4
Another theodolite set at C at distance D from A.
Angel 1, 2, 3 etc are calculated by:
o 1 = 1

Set the angle at theodolite at C. The line of sight, of theodolite A and

theodolite C will coincide at P1, P2 etc
Measure depth below each coincide points using sounding rod or cable.
Calculate the cross sectional area.

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G. Measuring the Discharge of water

Calculate the cross sectional area of river in m2, A

Calculate the velocity of streamflow using any above method as m/s, V

Discharge can be calculated:

Q = A x V in m3/s

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MARINE SURVEY
Involves the following procedure:
i.

Marked the lowest and highest tide.

Carry an open survey along the shore line using compass or theodolite
Obtain the configuration of the shore line. Reduce level, distance, bearing
and etc.

ii.

Determine the depth of water around the harbour area using echo-sounder
Obstructions like large rocks, sandbars, etc. are located.

iii.

Identify the current and tidal characteristic

Take necessary precautions for safe movement of ships.

iv.

Positions suitable lighthouses location indicating a safe route for ships and
boats. The positions of large rocks, submerged hills, sandbars, etc. are
located

v.

The profile of the sea bed is prepared for navigational guidance.

Soundings are taken at regular intervals and recorded.

vi.

Maps are prepared to indicate the position of submerged hills, sandbars or

any other obstructions.

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Sources of error
Some example of error in hydrographic survey are:
Instrumental errors i.e. peripheral equipment, bend, damage etc.
Mistaking reading instruments. Unfamiliar with the equipment
Traverse control not established, checked and adjusted before beginning to
collect details.
Control points too far apart and poorly selected for proper coverage of an
area.
Sights taken on detail points that are too far away.
Poor selection of points for contour map.
Too few or too many data taken. Not relevant data
Failure to collect mapping details.
Depths, the position of banks, coastline (HW and LW mark)
photographic views etc.

END OF CHAPTER 7

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