Introduction to bathymetric surveys

More than 80% of international trade is transported by water and Brazil is no different. Our country has an extensive coastline and the largest hydrographic network in the world with rivers that stand out for their depth width and length. This statement alone could be enough to justify any study into the creation and maintenance of nautical charts. However especially in Brazil not many professionals are trained to carry out accurate bathymetric surveys. This is why this study is being initiated at UFV (Federal University of Viçosa) in the area of bathymetric surveys with the aim of arousing the interest of surveyors and cartographers in this area. To this end the methodology presented covers all the steps involved in carrying out a fully automated single-beam bathymetric survey from data collection using a two-frequency echo sounder and RTK (Real Time Kinematic) technique to processing and generating the nautical chart and digital elevation model that describe the submerged relief of one of the impoundments of the Ribeirão São Bartolomeu located on the UFV campus.