Hydrography

Hydrography belongs to the applied sciences, dealing with the measurement and description of water bodies, which are the oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, as well as their adjacent coastal areas. Hydrography is crucial for efficiency and safety in the navigation of ships. This is achieved by studying the water bodies and predicting their changes over time. Surveys in the discipline of hydrography also support marine activities, including economic development, scientific research and environmental protection (www.iho.int).

With the help of hydrography, monitoring of inland and coastal waters as well as marine infrastructures are accomplished. The analysis of climate trends, water level predictions and seabed characterisation are included in this vast field of hydrography. Further information can be found on website of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): https://iho.int/en/what-is-hydrography

As a science and profession, hydrographic surveying has evolved into an occupation that is multi-disciplinary. Hydrographers today are involved with various aspects of water related data including bathymetric mapping of the ocean floor, investigating sub-sediment layers, monitoring underwater objects and constructions, exploring minerals that lie far beneath, managing large marine data sets and observing and studying ocean environments.

Hydrography offers exciting and versatile tasks in a wide range of professional fields both out on the oceans on vessels or inside offices. Currently, there is a great demand of highly qualified hydrographers in many industries, governmental authorities and research facilities.

Application is possible between June 1st and July 15th (online only). The programme starts every year in October. More information about the application process and requirements can be found here.

Please also note that there is NO university fee in Hamburg anymore. Each semester students are required to pay a semester contribution that includes the costs for the »semester ticket«, a ticket that permits free travel on Hamburg’s public transport system. 

You are interested in enrolling in the master program "Geodesy and Geoinformatics" with specialization in "Hydrography" and looking for further information?

Then join the "Digital Information Meeting for Prospective Hydrography Students" on the 16/06/2025 at 2 pm (CEST) where we provide further details about the study program and answer any questions you might have! To participate in the meeting, please write an informal email to ellen.heffner(at)hcu-hamburg.de and we will send you a zoom meeting link.

With the DVocean, HCU owns a new survey vessel that can be used not only for teaching but also for research projects. The aluminium vessel has a length of about 8 m and a width of 2.6 m. It can be transported by trailer to distant survey areas. In addition to the skipper, the cabin has room for six people with sufficient free working space.

Key Facts

Have a look at our 360° virtual tour here.

The field of Hydrography yields a variety of job opportunities, ranging from the private industrial sector to the non-commercial and academic sectors. Occupation in the private sector involves work at worldwide project surveys, several types of surveys supporting dredging and underwater construction operations (e.g., wind parks for power generation), pipeline investigation and monitoring and marine exploration. Hydrographers can also work in software and equipment companies. Job profiles here include software developers, system installers, or as sales manager, distributing technological novelties.

Primarily in the public sector, employers of hydrographers are the national hydrographic offices, federal waterways and shipping administration and port authorities. Typical tasks of hydrographers are the monitoring of the water depth in regular intervals as well as during construction projects or after special weather occurrences. Furthermore, another part of the work includes the issuing of nautical charts and/or prepare other data products with water depth information.

Other hydrography related tasks deal with data management and the visualization using geographic information system. By combining and simultaneous displaying different data sets a joint interpretation can be done and products like maps or digital derivatives for distribution and further usage can be generated.

Research in hydrography is extensive and fascinating. It relies on a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines. Two of the main application fields are paramount at the beginning of the third millennium. The first is the control of environmental quality and the sustainable management of living natural resources, the second is the effective exploration and exploitation of energy resources and minerals. Other topics cover marine autonomics and underwater vehicles. Subject matters range from dynamic positioning and sensor fusion to machine learning and artificial intelligence.

In conclusion, the graduates from the master programme in Geodesy and Geoinformatics with a specialisation in Hydrography have very good job perspectives and usually secure a job shortly after their graduation. Overall, opportunities of employment are endless. Hydrographers can find occupation from large globally operating companies to smaller local companies, at authorities, as scientist or educator. For further information please have a look at the videos posted by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): https://iho.int/en/brochure-presentation-videos

As a leading academic institution in Hydrography several research projects are conducted at the HafenCity University. More information can be found here.

Metal sulphide deposits on the seabed - German Exploration licence in the Indian Ocean (INDEX)

Comprehensive Integrated And Fully Autonomous Subsea Monitoring