Hydrographic Surveying Services for Port of Alaska

 
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Woolpert has conducted third-party hydrographic survey services for the Port of Alaska Maintenance Dredging Project since 2012. Survey services have included:

  • Establishing a new GNSS control network
  • Conducting biweekly summer multibeam hydrographic surveys (from April to November)
  • Performing monthly and bimonthly winter single beam hydrographic surveys (from November to March)
  • Producing CAD plots and volume computations
  • Executing additional on-call services as needed

The sea and weather conditions add a challenging component to these surveys. During the start and end of the summer season (April and November), there is a large amount of sea ice present in the Cook Inlet and Port of Alaska. An extensive knowledge of the local tide and weather patterns, including the tendencies of flowing sea ice, is critical to safe and successful surveys during these periods. Due to the abundance of ice in the Cook Inlet during these months, single beam surveys are conducted with a 60-foot tugboat boat capable of navigating through the ice flow. Careful weather assessment, awareness, and contingency plans are crucial for completing these surveys during any time of the year.

Survey data products are produced and delivered within 48 hours of data acquisition. Full-size paper and digital CAD plots contain gridded numerical soundings and a depth-colorized bathymetry image. Volumes are computed using AutoCAD Civil 3D to track the material removed by dredging operations and the natural accretion/erosion throughout the survey area. In addition, Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) are created and submitted for each survey.

This project has required Woolpert to coordinate a GNSS control survey, tidal datum mapping, multiple multibeam hydrographic surveys, and fast-turnaround high-quality data products. Woolpert, now in our third three-year contract, has mapped a cumulative survey coverage equal to over 300 mi2. Woolpert’s local survey vessels and personnel are mobilized as needed to ensure our responsiveness to a tight schedule and deliver complete and accurate products.

Client
Port of Alaska

Location
Cook Inlet, AK