SeaHorse VolVII No3 - THSOA

1 He American Congress on Sur-veying and Mapping (ACSM)has modified its hydrographer certifi-cation program by combining the"inshore" and "offshore" designationsand replacing the "at home" projectplanning exam with an objective ex-amination that will be both timed andproctored. The decision to removethe distinction between "inshore" and"offshore" hydrographer designationswas due in part to the increased simi-larities of vessel positioning broughtabout by the development of the Glo-bal Positioning System (GPS). Per-sons presently certified by ACSM willretain their "Inshore" and/or "off-shore" Branch ofThe Hydrographic SocietyThe Hydrographic Societyof Box 732, Rockville, MD 20848-0732 Vol.

2 VII No. 3 Fall 1997by Jerry Mills, NOAA, Coast Survey,Silver Spring, above changes to the certifica-tion process were approved at a May1997 meeting of the 12-member Hy-drographer Certification Board whichis made up of certified hydrographersfrom private industry and the federalgovernment. Additional informationabout the Hydrographer CertificationProgram is available from ACSM shome page:The new program became effec-tive on Sept. 2, 1997, and requires allapplicants who meet the experiencerequirements for ACSM certificationto take a three-hour multiple choiceand short answer examination. Topicareas include depth measurement,Changes have also been made tothe application process. In addition tothe previously required experiencerecord and four references, applicantswill be required to submit an essaydescribing the fundamental aspects of(SeeACSM,page 2)New program effectiveSept.

3 2, 1997vessel positioning, horizontal andvertical control, tides and water levels,survey planning, nautical science andgeneral marine science. Questionsfrom related fields such as cartographyand photogrammetry may also beincluded. Guidance for appropriatesubject matter was obtained from theInternational Advisory Board for theStandards of Competence for Hydro-graphic Surveyors co-sponsored by theInternational Hydrographic Organiza-tion (IHO) and the International Fed-eration of Surveyors (FIG).Examinations will be given eachyear at the two annual ACSM nationalmeetings and also at the ACSM head-quarters in Bethesda, Maryland. Thefirst examination was given on , 1997, at the GIS/LIS Conferencein Cincinnati, Ohio.

4 The next twotesting dates are March 4, 1998, at theACSM Annual Convention and Exhi-bition in Baltimore, Maryland, andJune 25, 1998, at ACSM and their qualificationsto perform hydrographic ACSM Hydrographer Certifi-cation Program began with the ACSMM arine Surveying and Mapping Com-mittee in response to complaints aboutunqualified bidders getting hydro-graphic surveying September 1981, the ACSMB oard of Directors adopted the origi-nal "Hydrographer CertificationProgram ," and the first certificate wasawarded in 1985. In addition to certif-ication by examination, many hydrog-raphers were given "direct" certifica-tion based solely on their documentedexperience in the hydrographic surveyfield.

5 This "direct" certification pro-cess ended in March launches new HydrographerCertification Examinationhe Hydrographic Society ofAmerica's Annual General Meet-ing (AGM) was held on Nov. 11,1997, in conjunction with the regu-larly scheduled meeting of the Hous-ton Chapter. President Pat Sanders, THSOA , presided over the meetingwhich was attended by 60 following is a summary of themajor actions of the Meeting ofCouncil of The Hydrographic Societyon October 23-24, 1997, in London, 1997 The SeahorseACSM(from page 1)For a list of suggested references ormore specific details, contact DeniseCalvert atACSM headquarters:Phone: (301) 493-0200, Fax: (301) 493-8245 or OFFICERSThe council took over the dutiesof the Education Fund ManagementCommittee.

6 All outstanding actionsof the fund were completed. A newplan for the operation of the fund willbe council meetingresultsCHAPTERSby Secretary Jerry Mills, THSOATGULF COASTTC ouncil reviewed the operation ofthe Society for the first six months ofthe fiscal year (1997-1998) and deter-mined that our expenses and incomewere in line with the budget. Thismeans that we are still projecting aloss of 30,000 English pounds for A&M UNIV. STUDENT CHAPTERTHSOA Tel: (301) 460-4768 Fax: (301) 460-4768e-mail: also announced that arrange-ments have been finalized for THSOAto host a Hydrographic SurveyCouncil noted that these increaseswould accelerate the decrease in mem-(SeeAGMpage 3)President.

7 Pat SandersSecretary .. Jerry MillsTreasure .. Karl KieningerTrustees:Brian ApseyKen BurkeJim CainEd HallquistBranch-elected Member .. Karl Kieningerof IHQ CouncilExecutive Secretary .. Jack WallaceEditor "The SeaHorse " .. Dale Westbrooke-mail: .. Jeff LilycropVice President .. Wade JumonvilleSecretary .. Arthur NajjarTreasurer .. Larry GronmeyerAt Large .. Richard ByrdAt Large .. John IwachiwChairman .. Michael BarnesVice Chairman .. Larry BuchananSecretary .. (Vacant)Treasurer .. Meredith RhodesAt Large .. Dave Ethrington-BrownAt Large (Membership) .. Kim FairweatherAt Large .. Richard SeegerPresident .. Kendra KowitzSecretary .. Frank GonzalezFaculty Advisor .. EstesDISCLAIMERM ention in The SeaHorse of com-mercial companies or products doesnot constitute an endorsement orrecommendation by The Hydro-graphic Karl Wm.

8 KieningerHydro Marine, member of council, Branch, and THSOA treasurerCouncil in principle approved abudget for 1998-1999 that reducedthe operational cost of headquartersand council. This would have pro-jected a deficit of 12,100 decided that it must have abalanced budget. Therefore, it ap-proved a large increase in both individ-ual dues to 48 pounds and corporatedues to 250 pounds. A decrease in theBranch Retention Rate was made from25% to 20%. The Branch RetentionRate is the amount a branch The budget will be calculatedwith a 10 percent decrease in diary for 1999 in its presentform was Warden , BA , FRICS , chiefsurveyor, Exploration Consultants,Ltd.

9 Was the only nomination for thepost of hon. secretary. No nomina-tions were made for the threemember-of-council positions that willbecome vacant in December of hosts THSOAAGMT here was a very brief discussionof the minutes from last year's AGMand the Treasurer's Report, followedby an announcement of the electionresults. Karl Kieninger was re-electedas treasurer. John Dassler of DavidEvans and Associates from Portland,Oregon, and David Clark of DavidClark and Associates from Mahwah,New Jersey, were elected as trustees toreplace Ken Burke and Brian are in order to Ken and Brianand their contributions to the Societyover the years. Welcome aboard Johnand offering of a shortcourse on Hydrographic Sur-veying for Nautical Charting will beoffered by Old Dominion University'sCenter of Coastal Physical Ocean-ography on March 30-April 3, 1998,in Seattle, Washington.

10 This coursewas developed in response to the fed-eral government's increased emphasison contracting for hydrographic sur-veys to support nautical charting andthe economic importance of suchsurveys in maximizing the draft oftransiting last month's HydrographicSociety Meeting of Council,two decisions were made that willhave an impact on the membershipfees in the United States. The Councilapproved an increase in Individual andCorporate Member dues and a reduc-tion in the amount of those dues thatmay be retained by the individualTHS Branches from 25 percent to Federal Geographic DataCommittee's (FGDC) Bathy-metric Subcommittee and the CoastalStates Organization co-sponsored aworkshop on Nov.