The Future of Hydrography

The charting of the seven seas has become even more important today than it has ever been in the past as the resources of the sea are being exploited world-wide. Yet the means devoted to hydrography are not commensurate with the needs, and here many new techniques are reviewed and discussed which will make the task of the sea surveyor easier and still more accurate. They include the production of the INT Charts, satellite systems, echo-sounders with side-scan and fully automated survey systems. The review concludes with an imaginary scenario of the hydrographic future of a country in the developing world.