Also available, for £150 is a new two volume Handbook of Offshore Surveying. Compiled by experienced hydrographic surveyors and geo-scientists, it is essentially written for those with minimal offshore survey exposure. The first volume deals with projects, geodesy and mathematics and variously available positioning systems and sensors, such as those for GPS, range bearing, heading, attitude, speed and underwater location.

The second volume looks at physics principles followed by detailed descriptions of acquisition systems such as single and multibeam echosounders, airborne laser assemblies, sidescan sonars, sub-bottom profilers, magnetometers, tidal and current gauges. Finally, it concludes with summaries of procedures for processing, validating and presentation of data.

Both books can be ordered via Clarkson Research Services' website (www. crsl. com)