Course

Hydrographic Survey Research

Time limit: 90 days
2 credits
Instructor: Jim Naismith

$100 Enroll

Full course description

 

CONRAD BLUCHER INSTITUTE FOR SURVEYING AND SCIENCE

Hydrographic Surveying: Survey Research

2.0
PDH Credits
90
Days Access
80%
Passing Score
3
Modules
Online
Self-Paced

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Course Overview

Hydrographic survey work in Texas coastal and offshore waters takes place in one of the most densely instrumented marine environments in the world, with thousands of pipelines, hundreds of lease blocks, multiple overlapping jurisdictions, and data sources that each tell only part of the story. Before a vessel leaves the dock, the research should already be done.

This course maps the full landscape of pre-survey research for Texas coastal and offshore hydrographic work. Developed in partnership with the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science and taught by Jim Naismith, RPLS, LSLS, the course grounds every data source in the professional decisions surveyors must make before and during field operations.

Through this course, you will work through federal, state, port authority, and private data sources; evaluate geodetic and datum considerations specific to the Gulf Coast; review nearshore sediment data; and learn how to integrate research findings into a defensible survey deliverable. The course draws on usable data portals, real legal cases, and actual survey reporting examples throughout.

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Professional Benefits

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Credit applicable toward professional surveyor continuing education requirements

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Expert instruction from an active hydrographic surveyor and licensed professional with decades of field experience

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Direct access to the real data portals, GIS tools, and agency resources used in professional Texas offshore survey work

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Foundation for defensible, professionally documented survey deliverables in complex coastal and offshore environments

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Learning Outcomes

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

1

Identify the primary federal, state, port authority, and private data sources applicable to hydrographic survey research in Texas coastal and offshore waters, and describe the coverage and key limitations of each.

2

Explain the professional and legal consequences of incomplete pre-survey research, using real case examples to illustrate the risks to practitioners and clients.

3

Apply knowledge of lease block geometry, resource management codes, and geodetic datum considerations to make appropriate professional decisions during survey planning and execution.

4

Correlate database records (pipelines, wells, wrecks, and other features) with field data from bathymetry, magnetometer, and side scan sonar surveys, and document findings in a professional survey deliverable.

5

Describe the role of safety, situational awareness, and infrastructure protection programs such as MarineSafe811 in professional hydrographic survey practice.

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Module Breakdown

MODULE 1

Why Research Matters

  • The 2008 Texas wrong-well case, and the legal and professional risk it illustrates
  • Surveying the wrong pipeline or lease, and the role of record-keeping
  • Safety as the first priority on every project
  • Data as only part of the picture, and identifying recorded vs. found features
  • Research as the field baseline

MODULE 2

Data Sources for Offshore Survey Research

  • Federal sources: BOEM pipelines and lease blocks, USACE eHydro (Galveston District), NOAA ENC/RNC and NCEI bathymetry
  • State of Texas sources: Texas GLO GIS (state waters to 9 NM) and Railroad Commission GIS, including its limitations
  • Lease blocks, resource management codes, Code MJ, and THC permit requirements
  • Port authorities and private sources: Port of Corpus Christi, Port of Houston, and the Bedrock Ocean Exploration / Mosaic platform
  • Geodesy and datums: NAD83 vs. WGS84 in Gulf Coast work, and legacy datum NAD27 for historic data
  • TX-SED nearshore sediment cores and grabs, and connecting sediment data to SBP processing

Assessment: Data Sources Quiz | 80% to pass

MODULE 3

Applying Research to Your Survey

  • State and federal lease block requirements, and why GIS data cannot calculate crossing positions
  • Official controlling documents and coordinates
  • Correlating database records with field data, and reporting pipeline crossings, wells, and wrecks
  • Side scan sonar contacts table documentation
  • MarineSafe811: program overview, notification guidelines, and its connection to safety and situational awareness

Assessment: Final CEU Quiz | 80% to pass

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Target Audience

  • Registered Professional Land Surveyors (RPLS) and Licensed State Land Surveyors (LSLS)
  • Hydrographic surveyors 
  • Geospatial professionals
  • Civil engineers
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Technical Requirements

  • High-speed internet connection
  • Modern web browser
  • Audio capability for video lectures
  • No software installation required
  • Optional: printer for supplementary materials

Note: This course awards 2.0 PDH / 0.2 CEU credits. Participants are responsible for verifying acceptance of this course with their individual state licensing board. Course content is subject to updates at any time.

For registration assistance, contact Shelby Sharpe at shelby.sharpe@tamucc.edu

A Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science Professional Development Course ©