Nahant to Gloucester, Massachusetts Swath Bathymetry of the South Essex Survey Area (se_5mbath)

Ship motion was recorded with a TSS DMS 2-05 Attitude Sensor, mounted on a head above the interferometric Submetrix 2000 Series transducers. Navigation was recorded using Real Time Kinematic Differential Global Positioning System (RTK-DGPS). The interferometric sonar is an angle-measuring system; depth accuracy decreases with increasing horizontal range. The combined angular accuracy of the Submetrix 2000 Series and the TSS DMS 2-05 attitude sensor is documented as 0.1 degrees. Assuming a constant angular accuracy, and using the International Hydrographic Standard (IHO) of a required 0.3 meter accuracy in < 30 meter water depth, all data collected within the survey fall within the IHO accuracy standards. However, vertical accuracy is also directly affected by the accuracy of both the navigation system and tidal measurements. RTK DGPS vertical accuracy is assumed to be 0.2 meters. Tidal elevations were derived from RTK -DGPS heights sent from a survey-specific base station at the Eastern Point Light House in Gloucester.
The RTK corrected signal was sent from a USGS survey-specific base station at the lighthouse on Eastern Point Lighthouse. The base station occupied a DMA monument, however, the x, & y positions were calculated for that location using a 3 day average of 12 hour data sets using the Online Positioning User Service (OPUS, National Geodetic Survey) solution. Tidal elevations were calculated from NOAA Tidal Station #8441841 using the same OPUS solution and then applied to the corrected elevations for the base station at Eastern Point Lighthouse. Antenna heights were referenced to Mean Tidal Level (MTL), and later reduced to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) for easier comparison of NOAA nautical charts.