Hydro International Columns

I was recently asked by Hydro international to answer, in the form of an Invited Reply, the question of why fewer people are choosing hydrographic surveying as a profession. Levels of students have di...

The IMO is considering a phased programme to make the carriage of ECDIS compulsory. This could mean that certain vessels be required to carry ECDIS from as early as 2008. In my view, this is the key t...

My colleague Peter Johnson presented a paper at this year’s Canadian Hydrographic Conference explaining how Australia is implementing Zones of Confidence in its charts. The Zones of Confidence (ZOC)...

July 2002 signalled a significant milestone in the long, tortuous life of ECDIS. It was the month that ECDIS was formally recognised (and specifically mentioned) in SOLAS Chapter V. It should have bee...

The International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are co-operating very closely to take appropriate action for the mandatory carriage of ECDIS to incr...

The existence of Web-based Geographic Information System (Web-based GIS) will enable the Hydrographic Information System to integrate all the activities of a Hydrographic Office on a single integrated...

A number of contributors to this column have discussed the benefits that information technologies bring to the conduct of hydrographic surveys and the production of nautical charts. Likewise, these te...

The resolution of object detection in the world’s oceans has increased exponentially during the past century, supporting engineering design of complex seafloor structures and leading to new sci...

With the launch of the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (IFHS) later this year we bid a fond farewell to The Hydrographic Society (THS). Earlier this year, I attended the EGM of The ...

As we seek solutions to the challenges posed by the world's coastal areas, it is important to take advantage of the expanding range of applications brought by new technologies to the venerable practis...

Legislation varies from country to country, with respect to the definition of the maritime, fluvial and lacustrine spaces administered by the state. In general, the sea floor and the water column are ...

Surveying Extremes - the Southern Frontier - Extending the Geographic and Technological Boundaries, is the theme for the first HYDRO conference ever down under in New Zealand, in the city of Christchu...

It has been long years since Japan started the hydrographic organisation now called Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department, JHOD, in 1872. The primary functions of the organisation have not b...

When I was asked to write an Insider’s View article for this issue, in my mind I thought that it might benefit a lot of institutions planning to offer hydrographic courses if I shared my experiences...

Increasing global environmental awareness means that endeavours impacting any geographical area are subject to cumbersome processes in order to get clearance from government and, often, non-government...