hydrografista

A hydrografista, or hydrographer, is a professional who conducts hydrography—the measurement and description of bodies of water, especially to produce navigational charts, tide tables, and related maritime data. The work encompasses planning and executing hydrographic surveys, collecting bathymetric data that reveal the shape of the seafloor, and gathering oceanographic information such as currents, tides, salinity, and temperature.

Typical duties include designing survey campaigns, operating field instruments (echo sounders, multibeam and side-scan sonar, GNSS/INS, AUVs or ROVs), processing and validating data, and preparing chart products and publications. The hydrografista must ensure data quality according to international standards, such as those from the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), and may also contribute to environmental and coastal management studies.

Employment is with government hydrographic offices, navies, coast guards, port authorities, research institutions, or private sector survey firms and offshore energy companies. Educational requirements typically include a university degree in oceanography, hydrography, surveying, geodesy, marine engineering, or related fields, plus professional certification and ongoing training.

Outputs from hydrographic work include official nautical charts, depth measurements, tidal datums, current and wind models, and coastal information used for navigation, harbor design, flood risk assessment, and marine conservation. The field has evolved from basic lead-line soundings to modern multidisciplinary practice using sonar, lidar, satellite altimetry, and GIS.