The Cost/Benefit of GPS for Hydrographic Surveying

P. Kielland, M.J. Casey

Abstract:	The merits of GPS can be immediately grasped by anyone familiar with positioning technology. Intuitively we tend to conclude that the cost/benefit of GPS must be very favorable. However, many of the organizations that will make first use of GPS don't allow such intuition to direct investment in new technology. In these organizations, purchasing new positioning technology must be fully justified and documented from an economic standpoint before purchasing decisions can be made. This paper documents a GPS cost benefit study performed by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. The study showed that investing in GPS hardware is indeed a very cost effective course of action. Based on this study we anticipate a productivity gain of 42% on GPS positioned hydrographic surveys. For this study both the static and kinematic positioning needs of CHS were analyzed. The present cost of installing shore control points was determined from reviewing the survey data and field reports from 18 typical CHS surveys. Cost projections were made for establishing GPS shore control to support a hydrographic survey. The cost of installing, calibrating and maintaining the vessel positioning systems on these 18 surveys was determined and compared to projected GPS positioning costs. Non:-monetary benefits were also considered in the study to add weight to the financial conclusions. These benefits center around the legal responsibility of chart makers dealing with a new generation of GPS equipped chart users.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2nd International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1989) September 27 - 29, 1989 The Broadmoor Hotel Colorado Spring, CO
Pages:	155 - 162
Cite this article:	Kielland, P., Casey, M.J., "The Cost/Benefit of GPS for Hydrographic Surveying," Proceedings of the 2nd International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1989), Colorado Spring, CO, September 1989, pp. 155-162.
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