Hydrographic Surveyor Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Hydrographic Surveyor includes the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Managing projects, both onshore and offshore, as vessel-based managers;
  • Sourcing information on seabed type, water movements and waves;
  • Using specialised technical software and geographical information systems (GIS) to manage the integration, processing and presentation of data to clients;
  • Dealing with clients, internally and externally, to provide tenders and results in appropriate formats;
  • Reviewing company procedures and software projects, and providing feedback on courses and in-house training;
  • Working as part of a team of technical specialists.
  • For those working onshore, responding to technical queries from onshore engineering teams and problem-solving for colleagues working offshore;
  • Producing reports;
  • Providing accurate and reliable information for other disciplines, such as, navigation, dredging, coastal works, seabed telephone cables, environmental monitoring, aquaculture, marine wind farm development, oceanographic research, bridge construction, and oil, gas and mineral resource exploration;
  • Working in a wide range of differing situations and applications including seabed mining, oil and gas exploration, the construction of ports, the provision of navigational charts, and the positioning of navigational aids;
  • Provision of data for oceanographic studies;
  • Using specialised technical software and equipment including satellite and terrestrial positioning systems, sonars, single and multibeam echo sounders, laser scanners and LiDAR equipped aircraft to provide data for the production of nautical charts and maps;
  • Using remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles to acquire data in deep oceans;

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Hydrographic Surveyor duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Hydrographic Surveyor roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.


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