2. PLANS AND PREPARATIONS 



25 



ing (refer to Photogrammetry Instructions 

 43). 



The following is a partial summary of the 

 types of information available for opera- 

 tional planning from a stereoscopic study of 

 aerial photographs : 



(a) In unsurveyed or poorly surveyed 

 areas, the approaches to the coast and routes 

 along it both for the ship and small boats ; 

 whether there are off-lying islands, rocks, 

 reefs, or shoals, and the probable clear chan- 

 nels between them ; protected areas possibly 

 suitable for anchorage, and the best landing 

 places for small boats. 



(b) The roads, trails, settlements, etc.; 

 special means of transport and supply other 

 than by water, which may be desirable; 

 whether the terrain is bare or wooded; the 

 relief, landmarks, etc. 



(c) Suitable sites for triangulation sta- 

 tions as well as the clearance of lines be- 

 tween those stations, and sites for signals 

 to control offshore hydrography. The use of 

 photographs in connection with triangula- 

 tion reconnaissance is discussed in detail in 

 4-8. 



(d) The nature of the shoreline and the 

 foreshore and the types of objects that will 

 be available for hydrographic signals. 



(e) Shoals, reefs, foul areas, and channels 

 are often visible to a degree and usually a 

 considerable amount of information about 

 these can be transferred from the photo- 

 graphs to boat sheets to assist the hydrog- 

 rapher. 



In summary, the aerial photographs per- 

 mit an advance reconnaissance of the area. 

 Such a reconnaissance is desirable prior to 

 arrival on the working grounds and notes 

 should be made freely from it. Usually these 

 notes can be placed directly on the photo- 

 graphs. After arrival on the working 

 grounds, the notes made during the advance 

 reconnaissance study will facilitate the de- 

 tailed study of the photographs for planning 

 day-to-day operations. This type of study is 

 of particular importance for original hydro- 

 graphic surveys in remote areas. 



2-17 Inspection of survey equipment. — 



It is customary to overhaul and service all 



survey instruments and equipment at the 

 end of each field sea.son. Instruments in need 

 of repair are sent to the Washington Office 

 and replacements requested. After receipt 

 of project instructions, the instrument in- 

 ventory should be reviewed and additional 

 instruments requisitioned from the Washing- 

 ton Office as necessary. Last-minute requests 

 just before the start of a field season should 

 be avoided. 



2-18 Training of personnel. — Each of 

 the survey operations requires a maximum 

 of experienced personnel in order that ac- 

 curate and reliable results may be obtained. 

 At the beginning of a season the survey 

 party will ordinarily have some members 

 who have had little or no experience in sur- 

 vey work. A few days of instruction, ex- 

 planation, and practice in calm waters of the 

 base harbor should prove profitable. When 

 engaged in repetitious work such as launch 

 hydrography, each member of the party 

 should be trained to do any of the various 

 operations involved (see 5-57). This prac- 

 tice will relieve the monotony and strain of 

 some phases of the work, foster a greater 

 interest in the whole operation, and provide 

 trained personnel for assignment to vacan- 

 cies in an emergency. 



The efficiency of a survey party and the 

 quality and quantity of results obtained will 

 depend largely on the experience and quali- 

 fications of the officers and men and the in- 

 terest and pride they take in their work. 

 Assignments should be based on the experi- 

 ence and general aptitude of each individual, 

 and the degree of reliability that can be 

 placed in his work. One of the functions of 

 a Chief of Party and of an officer in charge 

 of a subparty is to encourage the personnel 

 under his direction to learn their duties and 

 become proficient in their work, and to pro- 

 vide them with opportunity for obtaining the 

 all-around experience necessary to enable 

 them to assume charge of similar operations 

 when called upon to do so. Junior officers, 

 in particular, should be trained in all pos- 

 sible phases of combined operations even 

 though there may seem to be some loss of 

 efficiency by doing so. 



