| Title Low Budget Hydrography | |||||||||||||||||
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Author Marcus Neuvert American River College, Geography 350: Data Acquisition in GIS; Fall 2004 | |||||||||||||||||
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Abstract Basic hydrographic surveys are possible on a small budget. Through the availability of the equipment and their ease of use, sophisticated datasets can be produced at a professional level | |||||||||||||||||
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Introduction The availability of equipment and technology has expanded the arena of Marine Data Acquisition. With the advent of technologies such as side scan sonar and the availability of survey quality GPS data, most applications are plug and play with a Personal Computer.This has allowed the do it yourself spirit to flourish in the area of uncharted or insufficiently charted waters. The scope of this paper will focus on the feasibility of low budget marine data acquisition and just what considerations are involved in this endeavor: Availability Costs Ease of use. For the purposes of this paper the focus will be on the technology package and not on the vessel of opportunity or ships crew. | |||||||||||||||||
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Background The marine environment constitutes roughly 7/10th of the Earths surface. By most estimations upwards of 90% of this environment has not been mapped. As many as 225 ship-years are estimated to be needed to map the gaps. If all the worlds’ deep sea mapping fleet began now the conclusion would not be for another 30 years. (Vogt, 2000) This indicates that the library of deep sea datasets are limited and the inventory is not going to grow substantially anytime soon. Much of the side scan sonar images that do exist were the result of the ad hoc needs for the data and not part of a dedicated survey effort. | |||||||||||||||||
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Methods The methods for this evaluation are: availability of the products, Cost of the products and ease of use of the products. | |||||||||||||||||
| Side Scan Sonar Created in the 1960s, became widely available in the 1980s has become readily available in the last decade. Available through marine equipment suppliers. Prices ranges form $3,000 to $25,000 for Coastal mapping depending on the resolution desired Models in this range are plug and play, generally via serial port. |
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| GPS Available with ease, in the 3 meter or less range of accuracy. Prices range $150-$500 Most models come with data cord for connection to Personal Computer. |
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| Personal Computer Available with ease either via mailorder or through most retailers who sell electronics. Prices range $850-$3000 (based on minimum software requirements) Most software for GPS and Side Scan are intutitive. |
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Results Availability of the products demonstrated range from a trip to Wal-Mart to Ordering equipment form a professional marine equipment firmThe sum for the costs for minimum priced equipment is $4000. The higher end of the spectrum is around $33,000. The ease with which this equipment is operated is purely academic in this representation. All equipment profiled was quoted as being user friendly and/or intuitive. | |||||||||||||||||
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The results are based on the Models: SportScan Sid Scan Sonar, Fishers SS 100K/600K Garmin brand GPS, models varying (assumption that highly accurate DGPS data is not needed for bottom survey Lap top based on Dell Inspiron Notebooks models: 1000-XPS | ||||||||||||||||
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Analysis The feasibility of obtaining the basic, requisite gear, on a low budget, is high.The costs are low but the work time is high. It takes some time mapping an area at 12 knots/hour. The accuracy of the bathymetry would have to be on par with recreational wreck diving maps or light salvage with search involved; hydrographic standards would not be met for Navigational Charts | |||||||||||||||||
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Conclusions The inquiry showed that low budget hydrography was feasible for a motivated, moderately funded party . A small loan or a healthy savings could put some young entrepreneur in the driver’s seat of his or her own business. | |||||||||||||||||
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References Howie Doyle "Sonar Imaging Comes Inland: Added Efficiency in Inspection, Search, and Survey Operations"UnderWater Magazine June 1996 http://www.usgs.gov http://garmin.com http://www.dell.com Vogt, Peter R., Carron, Michael J. and Jung, Woo-Yeol. THE GLOBAL OCEAN MAPPING PROJECT(GOMAP) AND UNCLASS OPTIMIZING ARTICLE & SURVEYS FOR RE-USE IN PORTRAYAING GLOBAL BATYMETRY. June 6, 2000 | |||||||||||||||||
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