Surveying in the near-shore or surf zone is, without doubt, a technical and operational challenge. And this remains true despite the fact that GNSS-positioning and the drastic reduction in size of equipment have made things easier. There is hardly a surveyor who does not have a story about survey boats running aground (and, with bad luck, being stuck over the tide). Or about rubber dinghies washed ashore or turned upside down (more bad luck…). Some of us may even admit that we were directly involved in these experiences. In terms of safety of navigation this kind of surveying is often of limited value, as local fishermen know their way to the beach or small river entrances. But there are other motivating factors for the collection of data in these near-shore zones, including establishing the baseline for UNCLOS-purposes, and the growing need for information for the management of coastal-zones. While present technology (e.g. new sensors and vehicles) enable us to collect more, and more detailed data in these zones, comparison to past/historic hydrographic surveys can help gain insight into how things have evolved over the years.
In addition to scientific or coastal zone management, the military is increasingly interested as well. Since the end of the cold war, there has been more emphasis on crisis response and littoral waters. Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) has become an important concept, although the requirement of having environmental information available in a timely manner is not limited to the surf zone. Military interests in the near-shore or surf zone, especially for amphibious landings and mine warfare, include topographic, bathymetric, acoustic properties and nature of the bottom. There is also a need to determine salinity, water temperature, tidal information etc.
Not all data can be can be obtained by satellite or aircraft. The necessity for operations to remain covert in some regions has led to attention for the possibilities of unmanned underwater vehicles. An example for the biomimetic approach is taken from animals able to swim both in the sea and through the surf. This has resulted in prototypes resembling the turtle, fish (i.e. using fins as propulsion) or a water beetle. These ‘animal’-type craft may undoubtedly play a role in civilian data collection as well, whereas there are some civilian equipment systems with animal names like CRAB (www.frf.usace.army.mil or www.fathom.com/feature/122387) and WASP (see page 6: Wesp is the Dutch word for Wasp) that cannot easily fulfil the requirement to operate covertly.
It is not the surf zone alone that qualifies as a ‘Between Land and Water’ interest for surveyors: on a recent holiday in Brittany, France, I was again struck by the great difference in tides and the large expanse of tidal flats and their ecosystem. These are important habitats upon which many species and people are dependent. Such tidal flats are also working ground for surveyors.
We welcome a new member to the editorial advisory board of Hydro international. Rear Admiral Neil Guy, after a long naval career with the South African Navy, latterly as Chief of the Hydrographic Office, was elected as a director of the International Hydrographic Bureau from 1997-2002. At present his activities include being regional co-ordinator for the World Bank/GEF Western Indian Ocean Marine Highway and Coastal and Marine Contamination Prevention Project. Admiral Guy holds a bachelor’s degree in surveying, and master’s and doctoral degrees in public law (Marine Law, International Law and Law of the Sea). He is author of many publications, mainly on Law of the Sea and electronic chart issues.