I have spent 12 weeks on the Rainier (much longer than the expected 8 weeks) and will be extending my internship through the fall semester 2012 and the Rainier field season (getting back to our home port in Oct. or Nov).. I will be continuing my blog through the fall semester as I delve deeper into hydrographic surveying.
Over the summer I have learned a lot of the basics for hydrographic surveying. Some of these include:
- Various software programs for data acquisition and processing
- Small boat handling
- Boat safety
- Multibeam sonar operations
- Processing and cleaning data
- Installing a base station
- Using MVP/CTD
- Tide gauge monitoring
- Measuring waterline
- Using davit to deploy/recover launches
- General ship life
- Fishing
- POSPac Processing and troubleshooting
- 3D fly-through of data acquired and processed. (see video below)
...just to mention a few. There is so much to make hydrography work. Each component is vital in creating valid data and updates to navigational charts. Some examples of the kind of work we do is below. The video shows a 3D fly-through of data that I was directly involved in acquiring, converting, processing, and cleaning. Some days the seafloor is flat and uneventful, other days we get to see really interesting bathymetry. This is also shown by the screen-grab of a large rock formation on the seabed. Additionally, I have included a screen-grab of an area near a log storage facility that shows many logs strewn about the seabed. Finally, I have included an image of a suspected shipwreck. This goes to show how versatile multibeam data can be and how it can be used for many different applications (not just navigational charts).
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| Interesting rock formation on the seabed |
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| Logs on the seabed near a log storage facility |
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| A suspected shipwreck |
PROGRESS
Our progress of surveying the vicinity of Chirikof Island is displayed by the image below. We have spent many weeks scouring every inch of seafloor possible. We are very close to completion and will be heading to the Shumigan Islands for our next survey assignment after. It has been a great learning experience and I look forward to applying what I have learned especially to my own sheet in the Shumigans.
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| Progress of survey operations at Chirikof Island |
LOOKING FORWARD
I am also working towards becoming HIC qualified so when I come back next season I will have more experience and qualifications. A HIC is the Hydrographer in Charge. Becoming qualified for this job takes a lot of time, research, and experience (about a year). Each time a launch goes out, a coxswain, a HIC, and at least one other survey tech is usually on board. The HIC is responsible for the data, safety of the team, and is generally a teacher for the newer survey techs. The HIC is also trained for emergencies so that if something were to happen to the coxswain, they would be able to return safely to the ship. It is important to know about the launch and how it operates, as well as troubleshooting capabilities for data acquisition. This minimizes time spent going back to the ship for minor software problems that a HIC can fix on site.
Additionally, I have been assigned as lead processor for POSPac (a software used to process true heave files). My job is to make sure we are staying up to date with our processing, training new people on the POSPac software, and troubleshooting data that doesn't process correctly initially. It has been exciting to work so closely with the data and understand why and how we use it.
For the last half of the season I have advanced as a Sheet Assistant. This job entails the following:
As a hydrographic survey sheet assistant you will be working
hand in hand with the sheet manager from the start of survey planning until the
end of acquisition. There is not a clear end to your duties. It is the manager’s responsibility to
train the assistant. There are times when the manager may not be able to help you as
much as you need, in that case go to the sheet mentor, other managers, the CST
or the FOO. This is your opportunity to learn and ask questions before you are
a sheet manager yourself, so use the time wisely.
Always ask your sheet manager first what they need you to
do. Your duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Read the Letter Instructions
- Launch Setup
Check
Hypack project (check zone and devices)
- Digital Files
Plan
or assist with planning VBES lines and XLs (~10%)
Plan or assist
with planning SWMB lines and XLs (8-10%)
Plan or assist
with planning Polygons
Bottom samples
planned & to Hypack (.dig or .tgt)
Bottom sample
Notebook files created (.HOB)
Convert shoreline
files from Notebook (.000 file)
Load any required
charts and/or ENCs
Setting up
(finding and copying) sheet/survey limits
BASE surface
generation & export
- Hardcopy
Daily line plan and polygon chartlet
production
AWOIS
investigations printout for reference
Boatsheet
for shoreline investigation
- During Data Acquisition
Assist with
cleaning and exporting of field sheets for planning purposes
Acquire data on
launches during survey operations
- Pydro Setup
Open
any required charts and/or ENCs
Insert AWOIS
database
Configure PSS
metadata
Add a template
page (default.treetemplate)
Save PSS with the
name Hxxxxx.PSS
I have already created the polygons for our sheet and done all other prep work for pre-survey planning. The image below displays the polygons. Our assigned sheet is off of Simeonof Harbor and Island in the Shumigan Islands.One of the difficulties we face with our sheet is that there are no soundings recorded in our area. This makes estimations very difficult, as all of it depends on depth. I have made the polygons according to an estimated depth for each. We then calculate the size of the polygon, depth, and speed of the launch to figure out how long it will take a launch to fill in the polygon. I have estimated 12-15 launch days to finish the entire sheet. This could be an over- or under-estimation. In order to obtain a better idea of the depths, we plan to run some cross-lines along the sheet. If the depths are significantly off from my estimations, I will redraw and recalculate the polygons.
There are also several features assigned for investigation. This takes some prep work that minimizes danger to launch operation. It is important for the launch crew to know as much as possible about the feature under investigation so not to damage the launch or harm the crew in any way. This also goes for shoreline operations.
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| Polygons for sheet assignment |
SHIP LIFE - BENEFITS & INTENT
The benefits I have gained (and will continue to during the fall semester) will allow me to advance much quicker in my career choices. As mentioned earlier, I would like to come back again as an intern next field season. This would give me an opportunity to learn even more and be given more responsibilities that will aid in getting me a permanent job in Hyrography. My original intent was to check out the NOAA Corps and see what ship life was like, gain some ship experience in case I was still interested in applying to the NOAA Corps.
It has been a great opportunity for me as I have been able to interview many different officers of the NOAA Corps and get different viewpoints of the job and what it all entails.
I am still very interested in applying to the NOAA Corps and will make a decision after I graduate. This internship has opened up many different possibilities for me with the experience I have gained. Another option is to apply as a Survey Tech after graduation. This is likely since I will have a considerable amount of experience, training, and qualifications under my belt.
Being a hydrographer on a ship is not an easy job. Ship life is very different from normal life and is something to consider before applying for a long-term position. As with everything there are pros and cons to this job. For example:
Benefits:
- Free rent, utilities, and food
- Snacks and refreshments available anytime
- Movies and games available on board
- Get to see vacation hotspots while getting paid to do so
- Have an opportunity to pioneer places that have never had data recorded
- Is not a boring office job
- Get to see marine/wildlife on a regular basis
- Get to use a variety of softwares/ do a variety of jobs.
- Everyday is different
- Constant learning environment
- Workout facility on board
- Opportunity to move to a different NOAA ships
- Get opportunities to do once in a lifetime things like climbing glaciers, bear sightings, skydiving, fishing, kayaking, camping in remote areas in Alaska
- Government employee benefits
- Comradery (going out with shipmates)
- Many possibilities for advancement
Hardships:
- Roommates in tight quarters (not very much privacy)
- Spend a significant amount of time away from home, family, and friends
- No WiFi
- No skype, or streaming internet
- Sometimes have limited internet connection
- Very limited cell phone coverage
- 7 day work weeks while underway (this becomes especially hard when out for three week legs
- No bathtubs
- Not a job for someone who gets seasick
- Can be difficult to work/learn new software when the ship is rolling/pitching a lot
- Confined on the ship for long periods of time
- Steep learning curve (which can also be exciting)
Considering all the benefits and hardships, I think this is an incredible job and believe the benefits definitely outweigh the hardships. I suppose it wouldn't be a great job if it was easy all the time.
Overall, I am really hoping to come back next season. I'm looking forward to learning more during the fall semester and hopefully next season. The plans aren't set yet, but it looks like the Rainier might be going to the Arctic Circle next season. I would be very excited about being a part of that team.
As said earlier, I plan to continue my blog during the fall semester. These blog posts will go into more detail of hydrography and what it entails to be a hydrographer. I hope you have enjoyed my posts thus far and as always, I look forward to your comments. Greetings from Alaska!
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