Survey measurement and description of features to describe maritime cartography. Strong emphasis placed on soundings, shorelines, tides, currents, seabed and submerged obstructions that relate to the maritime navigation, marine construction, and dredging, offshore oil exploration/offshore oil drilling and related activities.

Hydrographic surveys traditionally conducted by ships/boat with a sounding line or echo sounding, surveys increasingly conducted with the aid of aircraft and sophisticated electronic sensor systems in shallow waters.