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Hydrographic Surveying
Underwater Depth and Bottom Mapping for Waterfront Development, Dredging, and Marine Infrastructure Projects
Sonar Hydrographic Surveying in Florida
Bathymetric Data Collection for Coastal Engineering Projects
Hydrographic surveying provides accurate mapping of underwater terrain using advanced single-beam and multibeam echosounder systems. At Aerial Metrology & Inspection, we collect bathymetric data across rivers, lakes, coastal areas, and marine environments to define seafloor and submerged surface conditions with precision. This type of surveying is essential for projects where water depth, underwater slopes, and hidden features directly impact design, construction, and navigation.
Our sonar-based systems emit acoustic pulses that capture dense depth measurements across large areas, while GNSS integration ensures every point is accurately positioned in real-world coordinates. The result is a detailed underwater surface model that can be aligned with terrestrial survey data, giving project teams a continuous elevation picture from land to submerged environments.
Canal & Levee Surveys
Cross-Section and Profile Data for Flood Control, Navigation, and Restoration Projects
Canal and levee cross-section surveys define the shape, elevation, and alignment of waterway channels and adjacent embankments, providing the geometric and hydraulic data needed for flood-control, navigation, and habitat-restoration projects. Work begins with a review of existing hydraulic and topographic records, followed by a high-precision geodetic control network built from static GNSS observations tied to NAD 83 (2011) and total-station benchmarks. From that control, we collect cross-sectional measurements of channel banks and levee crests at client-defined intervals, then process the data into hydraulic-grade cross-sections, longitudinal profiles, and volume calculations.
What's Included
Hydrographic Survey Deliverables & Data Collection
Our hydrographic surveying services provide detailed bathymetric data for understanding underwater terrain conditions in rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and marine project sites. Using single-beam and multibeam sonar systems integrated with GPS positioning, we capture accurate depth measurements and convert them into usable surface models that support marine construction, dredging, cable installation, and navigation planning. Each survey is tailored to project requirements, ensuring the data reflects both the physical underwater environment and the engineering needs of the project.
Deliverables & Data Collection
- Bathymetric survey drawings
- Contoured underwater surface models and digital terrain models (DTM) of submerged areas
- Cross-section profiles and depth analysis
CAD and GIS-compatible files - Volume calculations for dredging, channels, and embankments
- Survey report with methodology and findings
- Multibeam and single-beam sonar acquisition
- Geodetic control and positioning (GPS/GNSS, total-station benchmarks tied to NAD 83 2011)
- Water depth and bottom return measurements
- Transect-based survey lines (where applicable)
- Underwater feature identification and mapping
- Canal and levee cross-section and longitudinal profile data
- Quality control and data validation checks
Applications & Use
How Hydrographic Surveys Support Marine Construction
Hydrographic surveying is used to understand and document underwater terrain conditions that directly impact marine construction, infrastructure installation, and navigational safety. By capturing accurate 3D bathymetric data with sonar-based systems, these surveys support planning and design decisions in environments where traditional land-based surveying methods cannot reach. The resulting data is used to evaluate water depths, identify underwater obstructions, assess scouring, and plan safe, buildable access for marine and coastal projects. For waterway channels and adjacent embankments, this also includes cross-section and profile surveys that define bank and levee geometry to support flood-control, navigation, and habitat-restoration work.
Who We Serve
- Marine construction contractors
- Civil and coastal engineers
- Port authorities and municipalities
- Utility and telecommunications companies
- Marina and waterfront developers
- Environmental and permitting consultants
- Government and infrastructure agencies
- Water management and drainage districts
The Value of Hydrographic Survey Data
Reliable Underwater Terrain Information for Marine and Coastal Projects
Hydrographic surveying provides the verified underwater conditions needed to support safe and effective planning, design, and construction in marine environments. By using sonar-based systems to map water depths, seabed features, and underwater slopes, these surveys create an accurate representation of conditions that cannot be assessed through traditional land-based methods. This data is essential for evaluating feasibility, designing infrastructure, and ensuring compliance in coastal and submerged work areas.
- Reduce uncertainty in marine design by revealing submerged terrain changes, obstructions, and seabed conditions that affect constructability and access
- Support more accurate dredging and installation planning by quantifying depth variations and sediment profiles across the project area
- Enable better coordination between engineering, environmental, and construction teams using a consistent sonar-based dataset that reflects real underwater conditions
Common Questions
What to Expect From Your Project
Single-beam sonar collects depth readings directly beneath the survey vessel along defined transects, creating a profile of the underwater surface. Multibeam systems, on the other hand, transmit multiple sonar signals across a wide area beneath the vessel, producing a much denser dataset and a more complete three-dimensional representation of the seafloor. Multibeam is typically used when higher resolution and full surface coverage are required.
Because water levels can fluctuate during data collection, surveyors continuously monitor tidal conditions and apply vertical corrections to all depth readings. This process aligns measurements to a consistent vertical reference system, ensuring that the final dataset accurately reflects true elevations regardless of when or where the readings were taken.
Hydrographic surveys are most effective when completed early in the design phase to support planning and permitting decisions. A second survey is often performed immediately prior to construction to verify that underwater conditions have not shifted, particularly in dynamic environments such as channels, shorelines, and dredging areas.
Subsea cable routes must be carefully planned to avoid unstable slopes, hard substrate, and areas prone to sediment movement or scour. Accurate bathymetric data allows engineers to evaluate multiple routing options, determine appropriate burial depths, and design protective measures that reduce the risk of long-term exposure or damage.
Clients typically receive detailed bathymetric maps, contour models, cross-sectional profiles, and three-dimensional surface representations compatible with CAD and GIS platforms. Supporting documentation includes survey metadata, coordinate and vertical datum references, and reported accuracy thresholds to ensure the data can be used reliably in engineering and design workflows.
Yes. These surveys document the geometry of waterway channels and adjacent levees, combining sonar-based depth data where the channel holds water with GNSS and total-station measurements of banks and levee crests above the waterline. The resulting cross-sections, profiles, and volume calculations are prepared in accordance with Florida Department of Environmental Protection canal survey guidelines and support flood-control, navigation, and habitat-restoration projects.
Based in Jacksonville, Serving FL & AL
Speak With a Florida Licensed Surveying Team
Have a project that needs reliable surveying, LiDAR, or reality capture deliverables? Contact Aerial Metrology & Inspection to discuss your scope, timeline, and project requirements.