Hydrographic Surveys Division The Hydrographic Surveys Division (HSD) coordinates overall hydrographic, bathymetric, and oceanographic survey activities, including data acquisition and processing in support of the suite of NOAA’s nautical charts.  The Division develops data acquisition and processing requirements from Navigation Managers within the Navigation Services Division customer outreach and sets standards and priorities for survey projects and programs, which are carried out by individual NOAA ships or private contractors.  It monitors completed surveys for compliance with project instructions and overall program objectives. The Division also manages survey data for archiving and public access. The Hydrographic Surveys Division is made up of four branches composed primarily of physical scientists, cartographers and NOAA Corps Officers. The Operations Branch and Data Acquisition and Control Branch are located at NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Atlantic & Pacific Hydrographic Branches are located at the Marine Operations Center, Atlantic, in Norfolk, Virginia & Western Regional Support Center, in Seattle, Washington, respectively. A brief description of each branch follows:

Operations Branch
The Operations Branch develops requirements and priorities for hydrographic survey projects and programs.  It provides input for formulation and management of operational surveyplans; prepares detailed instructions for individual ships, field parties and contractors engaged in hydrographic and bathymetric surveys, including special projects as required; and provides data on features requiring special investigation.  The Branch monitors all approved basic surveys for compliance with project instructions and program objectives; and maintains liaison with Marine Centers concerning project requirements.  It maintains the Field Procedures Manual (FPM) by preparing or coordinating recommended changes and disseminating approved changes.

Data Acquisition and Control Branch
The Data Acquisition and Control Branch serves as the focal point within the Hydrographic Surveys Division on all issues relating to the acquisition of hydrographic survey data from the private sector, as well as the distribution and archiving of all hydrographic data.  The Branch prepares all documents detailing requirements and specifications for contract hydrographic surveys, including notices to the Federal Business Opportunities On-line, Contract Statements of Work, etc. and oversees and monitors all survey contracts and work.  The Branch further receives, indexes, and provides reference service for hydrographic data received from NOAA ships, hydrographic survey contracts, NOAA Navigation Response Teams or other outside sources.  It furnishes original records to appropriate NOAA organizations, arranges for furnishing copies to other users, and provides certified copies required for litigation.  It arranges for the storage of inactive non-current records in the Federal Records Centers and the National Archives, and provides for the security of original active surveys and records.  The Branch maintains a digital data archive and supports NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) in the distribution of digital data to the general public and government.

Atlantic & Pacific Hydrographic Branches
The Atlantic & Pacific Hydrographic Branches manage the office processing of hydrographic survey data acquired by NOAA hydrographic vessels, Navigation Response Teams, and performs contract oversight for hydrographic surveys conducted under contract.  They conduct a comprehensive verification and edit of hydrographic data and subsequently certify these data for use in the NOAA nautical charting program; and distribution to the public through the NGDC national repository for marine geological and geophysical data. The Branches support field operations by providing Office of Marine and Aircraft Operations (OMAO) hydrographic field units with trained professional hydrographers for up to 130 days per calendar year and also provide technical assistance to the Navigation Services Division’s Navigation Response Teams and its Navigation Managers. The Pacific Hydrographic Branch (PHB) provides these services and oversight for surveys conducted primarily on the west coast and Alaska and the Atlantic Hydrographic branch for surveys conducted primarily on the East and Gulf Coasts.