Hydrographic Survey Research
Time limit: 90 days
2 credits
Instructor: Jim Naismith
Full course description
CONRAD BLUCHER INSTITUTE FOR SURVEYING AND SCIENCE
Hydrographic Surveying:
Survey Research
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 — 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 — Chair for Excellence in Hydrographic and Coastal Surveying at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi — the course grounds every data source in the professional decisions surveyors must make before and during field operations.
Learners 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 real data portals, real legal cases, and real survey reporting examples throughout.
Learning Outcomes
By completing this course, participants will be able to:
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.
Explain the professional and legal consequences of incomplete pre-survey research, using real case examples to illustrate the risks to practitioners and clients.
Apply knowledge of lease block geometry, resource management codes, and geodetic datum considerations to make appropriate professional decisions during survey planning and execution.
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.
Describe the role of safety, situational awareness, and infrastructure protection programs such as MarineSafe811 in professional hydrographic survey practice.
Module Breakdown
Target Audience
- Registered Professional Land Surveyors (RPLS)
- Licensed State Land Surveyors (LSLS)
- Hydrographic surveyors working in Texas waters
- Geospatial professionals expanding into offshore or coastal work
- Civil engineers involved in pipeline or waterway projects
Technical Requirements
- High-speed internet connection
- Modern web browser
- Audio capability for video lectures
- No software installation required
- Optional: printer for supplementary materials
Professional Benefits
PDH/CEU credit applicable toward professional surveyor continuing education requirements
Expert instruction from an active hydrographic surveyor and licensed professional with decades of field experience
Direct access to the real data portals, GIS tools, and agency resources used in professional Texas offshore survey work
Foundation for defensible, professionally documented survey deliverables in complex coastal and offshore environments
Note: 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 ©