SUMMARY OF IHO MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS

ORDER Special 1 2 3
Examples of Typical Harbors, berthing areas, Harbors, harbor Areas not described in Offshore areas not
Areas and associated critical approach channels, Special Order and described in Special
channels with minimum recommended tracks Order 1, or areas up to Order, and Orders 1 and
underkeel clearances and some coastal areas 200 m water depth 2
with depths up to 100 m
Horizontal Accuracy 2m 5 m + 5% of depth 20 m + 5% of depth 150 m + 5% of depth
(95% Confidence
Level)
Depth accuracy for a = 0.25 m a = 0.5 m a = 1.0 m Same as Order 2
Reduced Depths (95% b = 0.0075 b = 0.013 b = 0.023
Confidence Level)
(1)
100 % Bottom Search Compulsory Required in selected May be required in Not applicable
areas selected areas
System Detection Cubic features > 1 m Cubic features > 2 m in Same as Order 1 Not applicable
Capability depths up to 40 m; 10%
of depth beyond 40 m
Maximum Line Not applicable, as 3 x average depth or 25 3-4 x average depth or 4 x average depth
Spacing 100% search m, whichever is greater 200 m, whichever is
compulsory greater
Horizontal control Primary control: 1 Same as Special Same as Special Same as Special
part in 100,00 for
ground survey methods;
10 cm at 95%
confidence level for
geodetic satellite
methods.
Secondary control: 1
part in 10,000 for
ground survey methods;
50 cm for geodetic
satellite methods.
Position of fixed aids 2 m at 95% confidence Same as Special 5 m at 95% confidence Same as Order 2
to navigation and level level
features significant to
navigation
Position of Natural 10 m at 95% confidence 20 m at 95% confidence Same as Order 1 Same as Order 1
Coastline level level
Mean position of 10 m at 95% confidence Same as Special 20 m at 95% confidence Same as Order 2
floating aids to level level
navigation
Position of 10 m at 95% confidence 20 m at 95% confidence Same as Order 1 Same as Order 1
Topographical level level
Features
Tidal Observations Error not to exceed  5 Error not to exceed  Same as Order 1 Same as Order 1; no
cm at 95% confidence 10 cm at 95% tides applied in depths
level confidence level > 200 m
Bottom Sampling 10 times line spacing; 10 times line spacing Same as Order 1 Same as Order 1; not
denser in anchorages required in depths >
200 m
Tidal Stream Measure at 3 and 10 m Same as Special Done only if they are of Same as Order 2
Observations below the surface. sufficient strength to
Observations at hourly affect surface
intervals for not less navigation.
than 15 days; 29 days
or more preferred.
Measure to nearest 0.1
knot and 10 degrees at
95% confidence level.
(1) To calculate the error limits for depth accuracy the corresponding values of a and b listed above have to be introduced into the
formula a squared + (b *d) squared with:
a constant depth error, i.e. the sum of all constant errors
b*d depth dependent error, i.e. the sum of all depth dependent errors
b factor of depth dependent error
d depth

Ilham Fathul Hoir