Reduction of heave, pitch and roll effects in hydrographic surveying

A hydrographic survey vessels show three-dimensional movements due to environmental effects, such as wind, current, other vessel wakes, etc. As a result of this, the vessel will experience Pitch, Roll and heave. These motions (if ignored) cause errors in depth and in the positioning of the sounding. The magnitude of the errors can reach up to even meters depending on the marine environment conditions, vessel size, vessel characteristics, and especially wave height. However, accurate and reliable depth and position data are needed in bathymetric charts prepared for shallow water navigation, dredging, various engineering applications, harbour manoeuvres, and maximizing cargo capacity safely. Therefore, compensation of vessel motion is necessary for several applications. The goal of this study is to determine and reduce the heave, Pitch and Roll effects in hydrographic surveying realized by a single narrow beam system. As a result of this study heave, Pitch and Roll corrections are calculated and applied to the relevant data.