Most people are familiar with recreational grade GPS receivers. However, GPS receivers that are used for surveying land must have a higher standard of accuracy. Survey GPS receivers are mostly used for creating maps and models during a land survey. GPS receivers can also be used by farmers to efficiently map fields for more productive crops. GPS is also helpful to map pieces of land that are near or under shallow water. According to GPS.gov, “GPS is especially useful in surveying coasts and waterways, where there are few land-based reference points.”. GPS is included in the hydrographic surveying of ocean coasts and surveying an area before an offshore oil rig can be built.
Surveying Coasts
GPS technology assists in the hydrographic surveys by allowing surveyors to plot points of the shore line. Coastline surveyors collect data on the erosion of ocean shorelines by using GPS coordinates.
During natural disasters, like hurricanes, the coasts are drastically changed by the recession of sea water as the hurricane pulls water from the shore. Storm surges can also permanently alter coast lines. When the storm passes, surveyors will survey the coast to analyze any damage that has occurred.
Offshore Oil Rigs
According to GPS.gov “Bridge builders and offshore oil rigs also depend on GPS for accurate hydrographic surveys.”. The site of the offshore oil rig is chosen by using GPS to locate an optimal area. Other surveying has to take place before an oil rig can be built, but GPS allows construction to be planned remotely. The area where the oil rig will be constructed does not have to be initially physically surveyed. With GPS, the company that wants to build the oil rig can measure how far away the rig should be from the coast or other rigs.
A Necessary Tool
Hydrographic surveying is dependent on GPS for more efficient and safe surveys around bodies of water. There are many different types of survey GPS receivers, and organizations or individuals who perform hydrographic surveys must have accurate and efficient equipment. The land is consistently affected when it is near or underwater, which is why GPS is so important to hydrographic surveys when researching coastline affects or preparing to build an offshore oil rig.
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