Land & Hydrographic Surveying with Work Placement MSc
Hydrographic Survey GEOG5014
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course provides students with an introduction to Hydrographic Surveying and includes a field class.
Timetable
The course will normally be taught during semester 2. Normally this will include a one-day field visit and a hydrographic conference / industry event .
Co-requisites
GEOG5023 - Land Surveying II
Assessment
Portfolio 60%.
Class test 40%
Main Assessment In: April/May
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
To introduce the particular environmental considerations, instrumentation and methods of surveying at sea. Aligned to guidance from professional surveying bodies this course covers traditional standard hydrographic surveying as well as, but not limited to, practices in the offshore energy industry.
The course will;
â– Introduce the environmental forces that impact hydrographic surveying;
â– Introduce suitable standards used in hydrographic surveying;
â– Introduce surface and subsurface methods of positioning;
â– Introduce the range of survey sensors available for performing hydrographic surveys;
â– Introduce instrument calibration, adjustment and verification methods used offshore;
â– Provide practical experience with industry standard software;
â– Introduce hydrographic charts and appropriate datums.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
On completing this course students will be able to:
■ Explain the dynamic environment in which hydrographic surveys take place and its effects on surveys;
■ Assess the suitability of positioning methods for various applications;
■ Compare techniques available for measuring and reducing water depth;
■ Explain the operation and calibration of standard hydrographic sensors and systems;
■ Assess data collection techniques against standard survey classification requirements;
■ Explain how typical hydrographic surveys may be planned and carried out;
■ Discuss the content and representation methods of hydrographic charts;
■ Set up a hydrographic survey software system and experiment with it for common offshore survey operations;
■ Process and present collected hydrographic data including multibeam.