Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training

From survey planning and fieldwork to processed, reported and standards-compliant hydrographic data

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In-class

Revised and Updated: 23 October 2026

Date	Venue	Duration
07 - 11 December 2026	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days
08 - 12 February 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days
08 - 12 March 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days
31 May - 04 June 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days
21 - 25 June 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days
19 - 23 July 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days
16 - 20 August 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days
11 - 15 October 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days
29 November - 03 December 2027	Sandton, Gauteng	5 Days

Course Introduction

Hydrography underpins safe navigation, port and coastal development, dredging, offshore construction, marine spatial planning, and the management of ocean resources. Modern survey technology, including multibeam echosounders, side-scan sonar, high-precision satellite positioning, uncrewed vessels, and airborne and satellite methods, now produces more accurate and detailed seafloor data than ever before, but the value of that data depends on how well the survey is planned, acquired, quality-controlled, and processed.

This five-day, hands-on course takes participants through the full hydrographic workflow: the principles and standards, project planning and risk management, equipment preparation and calibration, data acquisition, and the processing, analysis, visualisation, and reporting of results. Participants learn to deliver hydrographic outputs that are fit for purpose and that meet current international standards.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain the principles, scope, and applications of hydrography and its role in navigation safety, ports, coastal development, and marine resource management

Apply current international standards and best practice to the planning, acquisition, and reporting of hydrographic surveys

Select and describe the main survey technologies, including multibeam echosounders, side-scan sonar, and high-precision satellite positioning, and explain their strengths and limits

Plan a hydrographic project, including scope, risk assessment, logistics, budget, procurement, and stakeholder engagement

Prepare, calibrate, operate, and troubleshoot hydrographic instruments, and apply safe working practice at sea

Take part in simulated and, where arranged, live survey operations, with real-time quality control of the data

Process, analyse, and visualise bathymetric data with industry software and GIS tools

Interpret survey results, assess data quality and uncertainty, and report findings clearly

Manage and share hydrographic data responsibly, in line with recognised data standards

Who should attend?

Hydrographers

Marine Scientists and Oceanographers

Coastal Engineers

Port, Harbour and Dredging Professionals

Environmental Consultants

Government Officials and Marine Resource Managers

Graduate Students and Early-Career Professionals in Marine-Related Fields

Training Methodology

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.
– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.
– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.
– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.
– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.
– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Training Outline

5-Day Programme Outline

Day 1 — Introduction to Hydrography and Marine Sciences

Module 1: Introduction to Hydrography and Marine Sciences

Principles and scope of hydrography and marine sciences; applications in navigation, ports, dredging, coastal engineering, and resource management
Overview of modern survey equipment and technologies: single and multibeam echosounders, side-scan sonar, positioning and motion sensors, lidar bathymetry, satellite-derived bathymetry, and uncrewed surface and underwater vehicles
Datums, tides, and sound speed: why they control the accuracy of depth
Standards and best practice in marine data collection: the IHO survey standard (S-44, 6th edition, with its survey orders and the Exclusive order) and the IHO Manual on Hydrography
From survey to chart: the IHO S-100 family of data standards, including the S-102 bathymetric surface and S-101 electronic charts, and what they mean for survey deliverables
The South African context: the role of the South African Navy Hydrographic Office and the Hydrographic Act (confirm current detail)
Practical Exercise: match a set of survey purposes, such as a port approach channel and a coastal habitat map, to the survey order and equipment each needs

Day 2 — Project Planning and Survey Preparation

Module 2: Project Planning and Survey Preparation

Fundamentals of project management for hydrographic projects: scope, specification, schedule, and deliverables
Reading a client specification and turning it into a survey plan, including line planning and coverage
Risk assessment, mitigation, and logistics: weather, sea state, vessel availability, permits, and contingency
Budgeting, procurement, and contracting, including the choice between vessel, equipment, and data-processing options
Stakeholder engagement: clients, port and harbour authorities, regulators, and other sea users
Practical Exercise: prepare a survey plan, risk register, and outline budget for a sample port or coastal project

Day 3 — Fieldwork Preparation and Equipment Familiarisation

Module 3: Fieldwork Preparation and Equipment Familiarisation

Safety protocols and fieldwork best practice: safe working at sea, emergency procedures, and lone and night working
Introduction to vessel operations and navigation for surveys, including survey vessel handling and collision-avoidance rules
Instrument set-up and mounting: offsets, sensors, positioning, and motion correction
Calibration and system checks: patch test, sound speed profiles, and tide and positioning checks
Hands-on simulations of data collection scenarios, including equipment faults and poor data
Practical Exercise: complete a pre-survey checklist and a calibration sequence on a simulated system, and diagnose a planted fault

Day 4 — Fieldwork Execution: Surveys and Data Acquisition

Module 4: Fieldwork Execution — Surveys and Data Acquisition

Conducting simulated and, where arranged, live hydrographic surveys aboard equipped vessels
Real-time data acquisition, quality control, and troubleshooting: coverage, overlap, noise, and sound speed errors
Logging, survey records, and daily reporting
Supervised exercises led by experienced instructors
Practical Exercise: run a survey session, monitor data quality as it comes in, and decide whether a line must be re-run

Day 5 — Data Processing, Analysis and Visualisation; Wrap-Up and Certification

Module 5: Data Processing, Analysis and Visualisation

Introduction to bathymetric data processing and industry software: applying corrections, cleaning data, and checking uncertainty against the required standard
Surface models and deliverables: gridded surfaces, soundings, contours, and common data formats
GIS tools, spatial analysis, and advanced visualisation, including backscatter and seabed feature identification
Interpretation and reporting of hydrographic survey results: the survey report, data quality statement, and metadata
Data management and sharing, including how national surveys contribute to global seafloor mapping efforts such as Seabed 2030
Practical Exercise: process the Day 4 data to a clean surface, produce a map, and write a short survey report

Module 6: Wrap-Up and Certification

Review of key learning outcomes
Group discussion and feedback
Certificate of completion awarded
Practical Exercise: agree three actions to apply the course in your own survey work

The course instructor may adjust the programme for technical reasons, but the course objectives will always be met. Live survey work on a vessel depends on the venue, vessel access, sea conditions, and safety approvals, and is confirmed with each client. Where a live survey is not possible, the same steps are practised with simulations and recorded survey data.

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FAQs – Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training

Master advanced hydrography and marine surveying, learning survey planning, hydrographic data acquisition, positioning and measurement techniques, bathymetric mapping, data processing and analysis, quality control, and professional marine survey applications.

What topics are covered in the Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training course?

The course covers advanced multibeam and single-beam bathymetry, side-scan sonar principles, sub-bottom profiling, acoustic positioning systems (USBL/LBL), GNSS tide corrections, sound velocity profiling, hydrographic data processing, and 3D seabed visualization.

Who should attend the Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training course?

This training is designed for hydrographic surveyors, offshore survey engineers, geophysicists, oceanographers, port and harbour surveyors, dredging specialists, and marine geospatial analysts seeking to master modern seabed mapping techniques.

What skills will delegates develop through the Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training course?

Delegates gain practical skills in calibrating acoustic survey sensors, conducting patch tests, filtering bathymetric noise, managing high-density point clouds, executing quality control checks according to IHO Standards, and producing nautical charting deliverables.

How long does the Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training course take to complete?

The course is delivered as an intensive professional short-course programme, with the exact duration tailored around scheduled masterclass blocks and client operational requirements.

Does this course align with international hydrographic survey standards?

Yes. The technical curriculum and data quality assurance protocols taught throughout the course align with International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) S-44 standards for hydrographic surveys.

Can Prospen Africa deliver the Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training in-house?

Yes. Prospen Africa can deliver this course on-site or in-house, adapting the practical data processing workflows, sensor integration exercises, and case studies to match your organization's specific sonar hardware, processing software, and survey environments.

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Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training

From survey planning and fieldwork to processed, reported and standards-compliant hydrographic data

Course Objectives

Who should attend?

Course Outline

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Course Objectives

Who should attend?

Training Methodology

Training Outline

5-Day Programme Outline

Course Categories

Course Registration Guide

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FAQs – Hydrography 360: Advanced Marine Surveying and Data Mastery Training

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