Hydro Engineering & Mapping, Inc.
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Hydro Engineering & Mapping, Inc.
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Hydro Engineering & Mapping, Inc. (Hydro EMI) was created by a group of engineers, scientists and surveyors who have a special interest in the recreational use, commercial application and protection of the marine environment. While we believe the use and enjoyment of marine resources is a fundamental right of all people, we are also convinced of our commensurate responsibility to protect them. To that end, Hydro EMI provides a wide range of professional services associated with the:
Marine bathymetric surveys are extremely useful in conducting pre- and post-dredging volume calculations; locating aids to navigation; designing docks, boat ramps, moorings, bridges, breakwaters and sub aqueous utility crossings. Hydro EMI also uses the same technology to map environmental features such as oyster beds, grass beds and reefs. As sediment movement and deposition is of concern both environmentally and commercially, repeated measurements over time at the same location can provide clues as to the rate, pattern and causes of the deposition process.
Hydro Engineering & Mapping, Inc. (Hydro EMI) uses Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK GPS) electronics to collect and correct three-dimensional position data from orbiting satellites. The RTK GPS system is comprised of two GPS units, a base station and a rover. The base station is established at a point of known elevation and location. The elevation at the base station is usually referenced to the local mean lower low tidal datum, but just about any datum can be used. The base continuously computes and transmits three-dimensional position corrections to the rover unit which is mounted on the mapping boat.
When combined with depth soundings from an on-board echo sounder, the data stream is fed to an on-board computer where it is processed by a sophisticated marine surveying software package known as HYPAK. As the base station is correcting both the horizontal and vertical positions of the rover unit, vertical errors due to the influence of tides and swells on the measured depth are significantly corrected. To obtain the best corrections, the base station is positioned in close proximity to the area being mapped. Since three-dimensional positions and water depth are collected once each second, the potential effect of other errors are minimized by averaging the huge amount of data collected in the depth contouring process. To see a pictorial presentation of this process click here.
Completed data sets are quickly scanned to identify and remove obviously inconsistent data points that occasionally result from propeller turbulence and dislodged bottom sediment. The resulting depth and position information can be displayed by the HYPAK software as individual data points, cross-sections, three-dimensional pictures and contour maps. HYPAK’s triangular irregular network (TIN) terrain modeling feature is utilized to process the position and depth information into depth contours (lines of equal depth) referenced to mean lower low water. The depth contours are typically shown on a geo-referenced aerial photograph background. Depths are typically indicated in feet and positions are referenced to the 1984 World Geodetic System (WGS 84) which is the same datum used by the GPS satellites. However, just about any datum can be used.
When it is desired to collect soundings in areas too shallow to navigate the mapping boat or to include land features, the rover unit is quickly uncoupled from the boat and mounted on a staff for manual measurements on foot.
Most of the charts available to recreational boaters and fishermen (including the electronic ones) are simply reproductions of bathymetric data collected by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Department (now part of the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration, NOAA), as far back as the 1950's and ‘60's. Due to the limitations of surveying equipment available at the time, the data is often sketchy and doesn't adequately address areas frequented by recreational boaters, or is outdated due to natural and man-made changes in the sea floor. Recent hurricanes alone have created enormous problems in local waterways, including storm debris and shifting bottom configurations; all of which present obstacles to recreational boaters.
Limited government funding and an emphasis on mapping areas of high commercial and military importance has constrained government production and publication of more updated charts for the recreational user. Further, given the breadth of the task and the cost of equipment and software to collect new geographic information, there are few, if any, private sector initiatives to collect and publish up-to-date chart information for recreational use. The need for and desire to have better charted data of water depths is echoed by boating organizations, marine supply chandleries and many boaters.
With the growing availability of relatively-affordable, sophisticated equipment and computer software, it is now more economically feasible to collect bathymetric and position data necessary for the production of boating charts. Hydro Engineering & Mapping, Inc. (Hydro EMI) uses Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK GPS) electronics to collect and correct three-dimensional position data from orbiting satellites. The RTK GPS system is comprised of two GPS units, a base and a rover. The base station is fixed at a point of known elevation and location. The elevation at the base station is referenced to a local mean lower low tidal datum. The base continuously computes and transmits three-dimensional position corrections to the rover unit which is mounted on the mapping boat.
When combined with depth soundings from an on-board echo sounder, the data stream is fed to an on-board computer where it is processed by a sophisticated marine surveying software package known as HYPAK. As the base station is correcting both the horizontal and vertical positions of the rover unit, vertical errors due to the influence of tides and swells on the measured depth are significantly corrected. To obtain the best corrections, the base station is positioned in close proximity to the area being mapped. Since three-dimensional positions and water depth are collected once each second, the potential effect of other errors are minimized by averaging the huge amount of data collected in the contouring process. To see a pictorial presentation of this process click here.
Completed data sets are efficiently scanned to identify and remove obviously inconsistent data points that occasionally result from propeller turbulence and dislodged bottom sediment. HYPAK’s triangular irregular network (TIN) terrain modeling feature is then utilized to process the position and depth information into depth contours (lines of equal depth) referenced to mean lower low water. The depth contours are typically shown on a geo-referenced aerial photograph background. Depths are indicated in feet and positions are referenced to the 1984 World Geodetic System (WGS 84) which is the same datum used by the GPS satellites. A typical boating chart can be seen by clicking here or going to our online store.
In addition to our marine surveying and mapping capability, the Hydro EMI team includes State registered professional ocean and civil engineers and computer-aided drafting and GIS mapping technicians. Assisted as needed by subcontracted structural and geotechnical engineers, and biologists we can provide services to design and observe construction of typical marine facilities such as: boat ramps, docks, aquatic farms, marinas, moorings, sub-aqueous utility crossings, erosion controls, water control structures, storm water and water supply impoundments, surface water pumping stations and breakwaters.
Projects are most appropriately delineated into specific phases to organize the work effort and efficiently utilize available client resources. They usually include:
We strongly encourage clients to conduct a thorough feasibility or due-diligence study either before purchasing a project site or planning a marine-related development. A typical study should include preliminary environmental and physical reconnaissance missions to identify protected environmental habitats, and physical conditions such as prevalent wind and wave patterns, tidal heights and currents, mean depths, boating traffic, and bottom geology. It should also include preliminary discussions with local, State and Federal agencies having jurisdiction to assess potential problems in obtaining necessary governmental authorizations and other development constraints.
Based on the results of the feasibility study, the client can move forward with more assurance in developing a preliminary or conceptual design for facilities that meet the project goals while having a high potential of being permitted. In this phase a conceptual plan would be prepared showing the extent and nature of the proposed improvements.
After completion of the preliminary design process final marine bathymetric and boundary surveys, geotechnical tests and environmental studies should be completed. This information will be used to prepare the final design, construction drawings and permit applications.
At this point, the facilities are designed and drawings are prepared for the construction. Work elements needed to protect important environmental features, such as erosion control and monitoring are generally included. The drawings, surveys and environmental data are compiled as needed to prepare applications for permitting as prescribed by each jurisdictional agency. We often caution the client at this phase that the permitting process is often complex, slow and fraught with unforeseen issues raised by both the agencies and other interested parties. However, a carefully conceived project concept that attempts to proportionately address environmental issues will usually survive the process.
Aside from the fact that most agencies require some level of construction observation by the design engineer and biologist, we believe it is in the client’s best interest for these professionals to be involved in the construction process. Full time or periodic observations of the work will assist the client in assessing progress, assessing conformance of the work with the permits and design, and adjusting the design to accommodate unforeseen conditions.
The climate, geographic features, animal and plant life, and water resources prevalent in the State of Florida support commercial, recreational and residential opportunities of a significant magnitude and variety. The marine industry alone, which can boast year-round boating, sight-seeing, fishing, diving, swimming and other activities, represents a huge portion of the State’s commerce. The extensive use of marine resources and unforeseen consequences of development have changed the marine environment, often to its detriment. Local, State and Federal governments and agencies are in the midst of implementing numerous environmental projects to restore and protect the aquatic environment. In addition, environmental organizations are very active in funding restoration projects.
In concert with Hydro EMI’s vision of balanced sustainable use and protection of the marine environment, we offer services in connection with the study, monitoring, protection and restoration of water quality, marine life and habitat. Hydro EMI’s engineers have a well established experience record in the development of best management practices and storm water treatment methods to effect the reduction of sediment and nutrient transport to our waters. Through our marine mapping capability we are able to efficiently characterize and chart important habitats, measure the status of chemical, physical and biological components, and develop solutions.