A critique of: IHO standards for hydrographic surveys.

The international hydrographic organization (IHO) standards for hydrographic surveys, also known as special publication no. 44 (SP-44) cover a broad range of survey types and specified areas of surveys. Its main purpose is to ensure safety of navigation but other common uses are mentioned. With increasing activity in the ocean’s waterways and improvements in surveying technology, surveying standard must respond to the evolving industry. The newest IHO standards edition (2008) follows the same objectives as the previous four editions but has made minor changes from its last edition (1998). In 1998, the IHO had 4 survey classifications: special order, first order, second and third order. A removal of the third order classification and improvement in 2nd order took place in the 2008 edition. These mentioned changes reduce the risk of missing brisk changes in the seabed deeper than 100m such as under water volcanoes and large shipwrecks. Also in the 2008 editions first order surveys were classified as 1a and 1b, distinguishing full sea floor coverage from spaced coverage. These modifications in survey classifications take into consideration a broader range of equipment used and survey scenarios in first order situations. The United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea (UNCLOS) has gained much interest in the field of hydrography, however, no mention of the UNCLOS was found in the IHO standards document. As countries claim their international boundaries and exclusive economic zone to the UN, valuable and reliable data must be present to defend their claim. The IHO should match standards specified by the UN and possibly make a new survey order for that category. Accurate bathymetric data of International boundaries can help reduce conflict between neighboring countries or be valuable evidence to defend territorial claims.