Foulness Island, Essex
Foulness Island drainage scheme
Hydrographic surveys, Topographical surveys, Drone surveys
Hydrographic and bathymetric surveys of lakes, rivers and reservoirs
Water depths and bed levels for lakes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs and marinas, surveyed with a remote-controlled boat. Safer than wading or crewed boats, and delivered as CAD drawings and terrain models.
- Remote-controlled, shallow-draft survey boat
- Launched by one person, no crane needed
- Combined with land surveys of the banks
TSA member
Full member of The Survey Association, the UK trade body for survey companies.
Quotes in 24 hours
Fixed price, confirmed timescales, no surprises on the invoice.
Since 2013
Over 2,000 surveys, from home extensions to nuclear power stations.
Fully insured
£1m professional indemnity and £5m public liability cover.
What a hydrographic survey is
A hydrographic or bathymetric survey measures the depth of water and the shape of the bed beneath it. Engineers, landowners and contractors use the results to plan dredging, design structures in or beside water, and check work after construction.
Why a remote survey boat
Our shallow-draft boat is controlled from the bank, so nobody has to wade into the water or work from a crewed boat. One person can launch it without a crane, and it is manoeuvrable enough for tight, shallow or enclosed spaces such as weirs, locks and water treatment plants, where conventional methods are no longer appropriate.
Land and water in one survey
Most projects need the banks as well as the bed. We combine hydrographic work with a topographical survey of the surrounding land, so you get a single drawing package to design from.
How it works
Quote
Tell us the water body, the area to survey and what you need the data for. We reply with a fixed price.
Survey
Our surveyors launch the boat and record the bed using sonar, positioned by GNSS or a total station tracking a 360-degree prism.
Drawings
You receive DWG drawings, a DTM and PDFs. Outline results can often be ready within a few hours of the survey.
Who we work with
Engineers
Bed levels and depths for dredging, lock, pier and outfall design.
Marinas and landowners
Dredge planning and post-dredge checks for marinas, lakes and ponds.
Contractors
Pre- and post-construction surveys for new lakes, wetlands and water infrastructure.
Recent projects
See all projectsWhat clients say
Read our reviews on Google★★★★★
We have used THS Concepts for multiple surveys from topographic to drone photogrametry, they are professional and prompt and deliver exactly what is requested. Highly recommended.
★★★★★
I contacted Tom to carry out a Topographic survey, and cannot recommend them enough. Nothing was to much, and I was kept up to date with everything as it happened! Great company to deal with and reasonably priced.
★★★★★
Superb service, quick turnaround and extremely helpful! I wouldn't hesitate to use THS Concepts again if I need to in the future!
Hydrographic surveys: common questions
What equipment do you use?
A Hydrone remote-controlled survey boat, a twin-hulled catamaran designed for hydrographic work. It is positioned by GNSS or a total station tracking a 360-degree prism, and a sonar records the bed levels.
What projects have you surveyed?
Dredge surveys in marinas and rivers, lock gate replacement, a new pier in central London, and new lakes and wetlands after construction.
Can you survey the land around the water as well?
Yes. We often combine hydrographic work with a topographical survey of the banks and surrounding land, all in one drawing package.
Where do you work?
Mostly London and the South East, including Kent, Hertfordshire, Sussex, Surrey, Suffolk and Essex, and further afield when projects need it.
Related services
- Topographical surveys
Site levels, features and boundaries for planning and design.
- Drone surveys
Aerial LiDAR, mapping and roof inspections.
- Setting out
Gridlines, foundations, piles and roads set out on site.
Tell us about your site
Send a location, a rough brief and your deadline. We reply with a fixed quote within 24 hours.