All that is needed is an echo-sounder, a positioning device like a DGPS receiver, a small vessel in the case of an hydrographic survey, a PC, portable or desktop.
A multitude of echosounders can be selected from the menu as is shown on the left.

If the offset between receiving antenna and echosounder becomes excessive, then by utilizing a gyro or compass device with an output, the exact position of the echosounder relative to the antenna can be recalculated.
The menu on the left shows the various standard software drivers for gyro's.

A large choice of file format are available to either IMPORT or EXPORT data.

A wide selection of grids and Datum are available as shown on the left.

Topography can be either digitized, imported and converted from DXF files, or could easily be available from the immense DATABASE of charts available from CT Systems.

The same program(VIKING SURVEY) can also be used for either simple navigation, dredging operations, vessel management, etc.
On the left a dredger is shown using two Differential receivers simulating a gyro compass.

After a survey has been done, the bathymetric data can be edited using the FASTEDIT software. First of all the depth is edited/corrected. In three windows are shown: 
- the actual depth (bottom)
- the depth enlarged (middle left)
- the X/Y track (top right

When, in a very simple and user friendly manner, the depth data has been edited, the position data can be checked and or modified by simply 'dragging' lines to their correct positions.
See image on the left.

From the FASTEDIT program 2 different files are generated, all in plain ASCII format, enabling other software/survey packages to access and use the same data. The so called XYF and XYZ files are next accessed by the CONTOUR.EXE program. This program has a multitude of functions such as contouring, volume calculations, surface calculation, profile generation, etc.

The files are read into the memory of the computing device and reorganized into a MATRIX, which shows in various shades of blue on the screen. If topography is available that also can be shown relative to the survey.

By simple putting the cursor in a selective spot on the screen, then moving it and pressing just one key, profiles can be shown, as is demonstrated here. XYZ, contour files, Three D files can be generated in the same manner.

Here a THREE dimensional model is shown.

All the above different files can be read, processed, etc in the first SURVEY program and converted into charts again.
The POSTPLOT package, producing paper charts from A4 to A1, can read the same charts and 'layer' them into a final paper chart.

The image on the left, shows the XYZ file, generated in the CONTOUR program, as coloured numbers. The user can, in a very simple manner, connect all the various corresponding depth colours and figures with interconnecting lines, although of course it would be easier and simpler to use the contour lines generated in the contour program!

A complete matrix is also generated by the CONTOUR program.
Here the matrix with a resolution of 1 x 1 meter is shown in the VIKING SURVEY program. The matrix contains X, Y, Depth and Date information. By simply moving the cursor across the screen this data is accessed and shown IMMEDIATELY.

....Just click on the images below - PLEASE be patient while all the images are loading. I know it is boring, but reckon that in this case, it is essential that they are there...

Viking Survey Program

Positioning and Navigation Solutions