**4. Case of KAU hydrographic surveying program**

The hydrographic surveying department aims to provide graduates with basic and advanced knowledge of hydrography, hydrographic data collection, management, and presentation. Also, it provides knowledge of data analysis to determine depths and locations and to create hydrographic/nautical charts, as well as navigational and environmental protection. It has started in 2004 with two full-time faculty members and four collaborating faculties, to reach to eight full-time faculty members, two engineers, and four faculty members under development. The justified need has led KAU to initiate a program that builds the region capability for hydrographic surveying cadre. It also supports the ongoing development and exploitation of maritime resources. Since its inception and for 7 years, the program was under the Department of Maritime Studies at King Abdulaziz University and was hosted by the Faculty of Marine Science of KAU. In 2011 the announcement of the establishment of a new Faculty of Maritime studies was announced by approval from the higher authorities in Saudi Arabia (Royal Decree). The new Faculty of Maritime Studies hosts four departments, which are the Department of Hydrographic Surveying, the Department of Nautical Science, The Department of Ports and Maritime Transport, and the Department of Marine Engineering. The department graduates are 20 in total, with the first batch graduated in 2008.

B.Sc. in hydrographic surveying. **Figure 3** showing the University Hydrographia 1 survey

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The B.Sc. in hydrographic surveying program is designed for 131 credit hours, ideally, over 4 years of study [30]. **Table 1** is shows the program structure. The first year of the program covers the university requirements, as the education system in Saudi Arabia requires university students to take a faculty-based previous year, in which students will study 14 credits of common foundation courses in natural sciences as outlined in **Table 2**. As discussed by Rashid

vessel which is used a field data collection and survey planning training lab.

**No. Course name Course code Units** Mathematics for Maritime Studies MATH 201 4 Linear Algebra I MATH 241 3 Physics 204 PHYS 204 4 Physics (practical) PHYS 281 1 Introduction to Computer Science CPIT 201 3 Maritime Communication MSN 243 2 Marine Meteorology MSN 245 2 Fundamentals of Surveying MSS 220 3 Technical Communication MSS 221 2 Fundamentals of Nautical Science MSS 310 3 Underwater Positioning Systems MSS 311 3 Estimation and Uncertainty Management MSS 312 4 Geodesy and Map Projections MSS 313 4 Water Level Measurements and Prediction MSS 320 3 Surface Positioning Systems MSS 321 3 Underwater Imaging and Mapping I MSS 322 4 GIS and Bathymetric Data Management MSS 323 3 Marine Law and Policy MSS 410 1 Underwater Imaging and Mapping II MSS 411 4 Remote Sensing for Marine Applications MSS 413 3 Marine Geology for Hydrographers MSS 414 3 Nautical Charting MSS 420 3 Hydrographic Data Management and Presentation MSS 421 3 Degree Project MSS 429 3

Total 71

**Table 1.** Hydrographic surveying core courses.

The department facilities consist of the state-of-the-art equipment and instruments, including the "University Hydrography" survey vessel. The department services are among the most comprehensive regarding both technical and academic aspects. In April 2008, the construction was completed in the full five-storey maritime studies building, at KAU Campus Al-Morgan, 40 km north of the main campus in Jeddah. This building location is in the creek of Abhor and the Red Sea. A new 16-meter long hydrographic survey vessel was acquired in 2010 to provide hydrographic surveying students with all what they need to practice hydrographic surveying in the field. The vessel utilizes the state-of-the-art hydrographic surveying equipment and processing packages. It allows up to eight students and four crew members to conduct field survey for up to 8 days onshore using onboard data processing and transmission to different receivers.

## **4.1. Academic requirements**

The program is unique in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states; it is designed to address the gaps in educating professionals in the region, as no other institution offers a similar program or professional certification. The International Maritime Organization (IHO) [28] guidelines provided direct input in the development of the program. The program has focused on addressing far beyond the core competencies needed for hydrographers CAT A certification. The information provided by the local stakeholders [29], including the Saudi Aramco, Ministry of Transportation and National Surveying Authority, provided a regional benchmark for the skills and competencies required. The stakeholders showed a wide range acceptance and support of the idea of providing a professional license (CAT A) along with

**Figure 3.** KAU "hydrographia1" training vessel.

B.Sc. in hydrographic surveying. **Figure 3** showing the University Hydrographia 1 survey vessel which is used a field data collection and survey planning training lab.

The B.Sc. in hydrographic surveying program is designed for 131 credit hours, ideally, over 4 years of study [30]. **Table 1** is shows the program structure. The first year of the program covers the university requirements, as the education system in Saudi Arabia requires university students to take a faculty-based previous year, in which students will study 14 credits of common foundation courses in natural sciences as outlined in **Table 2**. As discussed by Rashid


**Table 1.** Hydrographic surveying core courses.

the Department of Maritime Studies at King Abdulaziz University and was hosted by the Faculty of Marine Science of KAU. In 2011 the announcement of the establishment of a new Faculty of Maritime studies was announced by approval from the higher authorities in Saudi Arabia (Royal Decree). The new Faculty of Maritime Studies hosts four departments, which are the Department of Hydrographic Surveying, the Department of Nautical Science, The Department of Ports and Maritime Transport, and the Department of Marine Engineering.

The department facilities consist of the state-of-the-art equipment and instruments, including the "University Hydrography" survey vessel. The department services are among the most comprehensive regarding both technical and academic aspects. In April 2008, the construction was completed in the full five-storey maritime studies building, at KAU Campus Al-Morgan, 40 km north of the main campus in Jeddah. This building location is in the creek of Abhor and the Red Sea. A new 16-meter long hydrographic survey vessel was acquired in 2010 to provide hydrographic surveying students with all what they need to practice hydrographic surveying in the field. The vessel utilizes the state-of-the-art hydrographic surveying equipment and processing packages. It allows up to eight students and four crew members to conduct field survey for up to 8 days onshore using onboard data processing and transmission to different receivers.

The program is unique in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states; it is designed to address the gaps in educating professionals in the region, as no other institution offers a similar program or professional certification. The International Maritime Organization (IHO) [28] guidelines provided direct input in the development of the program. The program has focused on addressing far beyond the core competencies needed for hydrographers CAT A certification. The information provided by the local stakeholders [29], including the Saudi Aramco, Ministry of Transportation and National Surveying Authority, provided a regional benchmark for the skills and competencies required. The stakeholders showed a wide range acceptance and support of the idea of providing a professional license (CAT A) along with

The department graduates are 20 in total, with the first batch graduated in 2008.

**4.1. Academic requirements**

52 Trends in Geomatics - An Earth Science Perspective

**Figure 3.** KAU "hydrographia1" training vessel.


four courses at the preparative preceding year, according to the Saudi higher education system. At this prior year, the students learn mathematics and physics extensively. Another 26 credit hours represent additional courses according to the requirements of KAU. In this, 26 credits of compulsory university requirement courses include Arabic and English languages, Islamic culture, and Humanities. The university requirements are also supported by 10 credits of the faculty requirements, in which the faculty needs students to study mandatory faculty courses, namely marine environment, statistics, and oceanography. A total of 50 credits that constitute the university requirements, as well as the faculty requirements are a must prior to starting the core courses of the Hydorgprahic Surveying specialization. Out of 81 credits, 69 credits represent the mandatory courses and 8 credits represent the elective courses that students can choose from a vast number of classes. The last four credits are for the necessary

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English is the language of study in the program. Students must complete intensive four courses in English during their first 2 years. Ideally, before the start of the specialization courses by the beginning of the third year, students must obtain an equivalent to 200 TOEFL

The core program credits are 81 credit hours and provide students with all the skills needed to become a professional hydrographer; starting at the seventh term, students begin to take specialty courses. Students must mainly go through the process of applying the scientific method in solving particular research issue and report that in a sound acceptable precise way as a graduation project. The core hydrographic curriculum covers four specialty areas, which are: Hydrographic Surveying courses, where students will learn about the methods and procedures of hydrographic surveying, supported by the Science and Engineering behind that. In the core courses students are introduced to to tide measurement, echosounder equipment measuments through singlebeam and multibeam echosounding, sidescan sonar, offshore geophysical surveying. The second specialty area covers positioning and navigation, including terrestrial and satellite positioning and altitude systems. This component will provide the student not only with the basic foundations needed to meet the requirement as Category "A" hydrographer but also to address the academic requirements for getting a B.Sc. degree. The third specialty area covers geodesy and estimation, where students will learn about datum and coordinate systems, map projections, maritime boundary delineation, estimation and filtering, and uncertainty management. This component will provide the student not only with the basic foundations needed to meet the requirement as Category "A" hydrographer but also to address the academic requirements for getting a B.Sc. degree. The fourth specialty area is nautical chart production, where students will learn about Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), data management, remote sensing, and photogrammetry. This component will provide the student not only with the basic foundations needed to meet the requirement as Category "A" hydrographer but also to address the academic requirements for getting a B.Sc. degree. **Table 1** provides an overall view of the components of the hydrographic surveying program

score, to begin their third year. KAU English Language Centre offers these courses.

and their term distribution, including prerequisite and elective courses.

Students can choose to take 8 credit hours of elective courses to add additional 8 credits in order to graduate. The courses students can choose from are Technical Communications,

training as the IHO requires it.


**Table 2.** Students survey questions.

and Tasadduq [31], some programs face the challenge in curriculum design as it relates to the rapid evolution of technology, which was a major consideration in exploring the options for setting this academic program to meet the IHO professional standards.

The advanced curriculum addresses the university requirements, the faculty requirements and the program core courses and elective courses requirements as set by the King Abdulaziz University, Academic Policy. A total of 131 credits covers some 14 credit hours, divided into four courses at the preparative preceding year, according to the Saudi higher education system. At this prior year, the students learn mathematics and physics extensively. Another 26 credit hours represent additional courses according to the requirements of KAU. In this, 26 credits of compulsory university requirement courses include Arabic and English languages, Islamic culture, and Humanities. The university requirements are also supported by 10 credits of the faculty requirements, in which the faculty needs students to study mandatory faculty courses, namely marine environment, statistics, and oceanography. A total of 50 credits that constitute the university requirements, as well as the faculty requirements are a must prior to starting the core courses of the Hydorgprahic Surveying specialization. Out of 81 credits, 69 credits represent the mandatory courses and 8 credits represent the elective courses that students can choose from a vast number of classes. The last four credits are for the necessary training as the IHO requires it.

English is the language of study in the program. Students must complete intensive four courses in English during their first 2 years. Ideally, before the start of the specialization courses by the beginning of the third year, students must obtain an equivalent to 200 TOEFL score, to begin their third year. KAU English Language Centre offers these courses.

The core program credits are 81 credit hours and provide students with all the skills needed to become a professional hydrographer; starting at the seventh term, students begin to take specialty courses. Students must mainly go through the process of applying the scientific method in solving particular research issue and report that in a sound acceptable precise way as a graduation project. The core hydrographic curriculum covers four specialty areas, which are: Hydrographic Surveying courses, where students will learn about the methods and procedures of hydrographic surveying, supported by the Science and Engineering behind that. In the core courses students are introduced to to tide measurement, echosounder equipment measuments through singlebeam and multibeam echosounding, sidescan sonar, offshore geophysical surveying. The second specialty area covers positioning and navigation, including terrestrial and satellite positioning and altitude systems. This component will provide the student not only with the basic foundations needed to meet the requirement as Category "A" hydrographer but also to address the academic requirements for getting a B.Sc. degree. The third specialty area covers geodesy and estimation, where students will learn about datum and coordinate systems, map projections, maritime boundary delineation, estimation and filtering, and uncertainty management. This component will provide the student not only with the basic foundations needed to meet the requirement as Category "A" hydrographer but also to address the academic requirements for getting a B.Sc. degree. The fourth specialty area is nautical chart production, where students will learn about Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), data management, remote sensing, and photogrammetry. This component will provide the student not only with the basic foundations needed to meet the requirement as Category "A" hydrographer but also to address the academic requirements for getting a B.Sc. degree. **Table 1** provides an overall view of the components of the hydrographic surveying program and their term distribution, including prerequisite and elective courses.

Students can choose to take 8 credit hours of elective courses to add additional 8 credits in order to graduate. The courses students can choose from are Technical Communications,

and Tasadduq [31], some programs face the challenge in curriculum design as it relates to the rapid evolution of technology, which was a major consideration in exploring the options for

The advanced curriculum addresses the university requirements, the faculty requirements and the program core courses and elective courses requirements as set by the King Abdulaziz University, Academic Policy. A total of 131 credits covers some 14 credit hours, divided into

setting this academic program to meet the IHO professional standards.

1 The program structure (including the knowledge and skills to be acquired) was evident to me

4 The conduct of the courses and the things I was asked to do were consistent with the course outline

5 My instructor(s) were fully committed to the delivery of the courses (e.g., classes started on time, instructor

were made clear to me

54 Trends in Geomatics - An Earth Science Perspective

always present, materials well prepared, etc.)

6 My instructor(s) had a thorough knowledge of the content of the courses

10 Courses materials were of up to date and useful (texts, handouts, references, etc.)

12 In this program, efficient use was made of technology to support my learning

17 Marks for assignments and tests were given to me within a reasonable time

16 The amount of work I had to do was reasonable for the program credit hours allocated

19 The links between the courses and throughout the program were made clear to me

21 I had improved my ability to think and solve problems rather than just memorize the information

11 The resources I needed (textbooks, library, computers, etc.) were available when I needed them

7 My instructor(s) were available during office hours to help me 8 My instructor(s) were enthusiastic about what they were teaching 9 My instructor(s) cared about my progress and were helpful to me

13 I was encouraged to ask questions and develop my ideas

18 Grading of my tests and assignments was fair and reasonable

22 I was able to develop my skills in working as a member of a team

20 What I learned is important and will be useful to me

23 I had improved my ability to communicate effectively 24 Overall, I was satisfied with the quality learning experience

14 I was inspired to do my best work

**Table 2.** Students survey questions.

to me

skills

2 The things I had to do to succeed in the program including courses assessment tasks and criteria for assessment

3 Sources of help for me during the program including faculty office hours and reference material were made clear

15 The things I had to do (class activities, assignments, laboratories) were helpful for developing the knowledge and

Marine Geology for Hydrographers, Offshore Geophysical Surveying and special topics in hydrography.

The international interest expressed by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) was evident. The Capacity Building administration of the IHO was working hard to expand the presence of IHO- certified hydrographers in many regions of the world. A high delegation from the IHO has visited Saudi Arabia several times in the past 10 years. A meeting with the president of the IHO was held during his visit to Saudi Arabia to attend activities related to the GCS. A second meeting with the IHO representatives took place during the IBSC visit to attend a regional event in 2014. These two sessions with the administration revealed keen interest for support from the IHO, for the establishment of an international program at King Abdulaziz University. The hydrographic Surveying Department has maintained a strong international support and collaboration with many organization including the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Development of Ocean Mapping (CIDCO) in Canada in hosting student training programs. CIDCO is a marine geomatics R&D organization that hosts IHO recognized program. ENSTA Bretagne in France has also provided support to the program by delivering training for students in 2012. ENSTA Bretagne is a French national graduate engineering institute with reputed contribution to hydrography. A delegation of the chapter of the UK Hydrographic Society in UAE has visited the program and showed interest in sponsoring professional talk series in UAE, where representatives of the program can participate and share insight with practitioners into the domain of hydrography. The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) has approved the membership of the graduates of hydrographic surveying program. The objectives of SCE are to promote the engineering profession. The council exercises many roles to do whatever may be necessary to develop and upgrade its standards, however, currently the membership of Hydrographic Surveying graduates to the SCE is under review [32]. The mandate of the SCE stipulates that it determines the suitability of the program in terms of accreditation requirements. Till the year 2015, the graduates of the program are recognized as individual members of the SCE according to the SCE regulations.

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The support that hydrographic surveying program gets goes far beyond the university top academic administration. The initiation of the program was completely backed up by an advisory board of government and industry. This support secured that the program meets the need of local and regional employers, and provides international standards for training and education. Specific support was evident from the Saudi Aramco, Saudi Ports Authority, Ministry of Transportation, and the Saudi Military Survey Department. Some mutual visits and consultations with the Saudi General Commission for Survey (GCS), Saudi Navy, the Saudi Geological Survey, and the Saudi Coast Guard helped with shaping their operational requirements. The success of the program in securing support from government stakeholders, as well as private stakeholders represented by industry members from Saudi Arabia, provided added value to the program design. Regional support from relevant stakeholders from the United Arab Emirates, who expressed interest in attracting students to work with them on various projects, represented another evidence of the program success. The foundations for collaboration and support have emerged in some mutual agreements and MOUs. All graduates of the program in 2014 were hired by GCS as hydrogra-

phers and resumed their duties with positive feedback from their managers.

**4.3. Stakeholders' requirements**

The field training provides the required field skills as outlined by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) guidelines [28]. Over two terms of 6 weeks on the board of a hydrographic survey vessel, students gain the required practical knowledge needed to work with different data acquisition systems. The focus of the core skills that students get while on training covers field calibration of single beam/multibeam echo sounder, multibeam system patch test, and reference systems. The students are also involved in the survey design and planning, hydrographic surveying specifications, and types of hydrographic surveys.
