Irondale, AL
CLIENT: Lake George
Sain Associates provided a hydrographic survey of Lake George, an approximately 40-acre private lake in Irondale, Alabama. The hydrographic survey was very beneficial to Lake George’s members as it allowed them to see the bottom contours of the lake, which extended down to 23 feet. The survey also revealed an underwater creek channel, humps, and other lake features.
The process for conducting a hydrographic survey starts with accessing the body of water to determine the best-suited boat and equipment for the job. The sonar used at Lake George is like a transducer on any depth finder, but it’s linked to a survey-grade GPS or robotic system. During the data collection, the surveying equipment solves for an X, Y, and Z location on the submerged sonar. At the same time, the sonar sounds a depth to the bottom of the water body. When the data is processed, the sounding depth is added to the Z location, providing an elevation of the floor of the water body.
This technology can be utilized for topographic maps of ponds, surveys of outfall lines in rivers, and topographic maps of quarries and efficient ponds.