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Hydrographic Surveying

DLZ gives project teams underwater data they can count on. Our hydrographic work is led by an NSPS-THSOA Certified Hydrographer, a credential held by only a few hundred people nationwide. Our team surveys rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and ports throughout the Great Lakes and Midwest, from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River. We collect multibeam and single-beam bathymetry from crewed vessels and remote-controlled survey boats. That lets us cover open water, shallow channels, and tight spaces around piers, intakes, and bridge foundations without changing teams or methods.

What sets our work apart is what happens at the shoreline. DLZ self-performs hydrographic surveying, laser scanning, and UAS mapping, so underwater and upland data are tied to one control network and delivered as one continuous surface.

Featured Capabilities

Multibeam Echo Sounder Surveys

DLZ’s multibeam surveys collect full-bottom coverage instead of individual survey lines, capturing scour holes, debris, riprap condition, and other features that line-based surveys can miss. Data is processed to federal hydrographic standards and delivered as surfaces, contours, and point clouds ready for design, dredge quantities, and structure assessment.

Remote Controlled Z-Boat Surveys

DLZ operates a fleet of remote-controlled survey boats, including both single-beam and multibeam units. They can be launched from shore, deployed by davit crane from our support vessels, or towed behind smaller boats, so we can reach almost any site from whatever access is available. They work where crewed vessels can’t safely or practically operate: shallow channels, marinas, culverts, around piers and intakes, and below dams and spillways. Crews stay clear of the hazard zone while the vessel collects data tied to the same control network as the rest of the project.

Dredging Support & Quantity Verification

DLZ provides pre-dredge, progress, and post-dredge surveys that document existing conditions, track removal during construction, and verify final grades. Quantities are computed surface-to-surface from full-coverage data, giving owners and contractors numbers that hold up in pay applications, closeout, and dispute resolution.

Bridge, Pier & Waterfront Structure Surveys

DLZ maps the channel bottom and structure faces around bridges, piers, dock walls, and intakes, then combines that data with above-water laser scanning into a single model. Our remote-controlled boats work between piers and under low decks where larger vessels can’t fit. The results support scour evaluations, sheet pile and dock wall condition assessments, rehabilitation design, and new construction, with conditions documented from top of wall to channel bottom.

Construction & As-Built Hydrographic Surveys

DLZ verifies underwater construction as it’s placed: riprap and scour protection, armor stone, intake and outfall pipelines, trench excavation and backfill, and foundation work at bridges and dock walls. Progress surveys catch placement errors while equipment is still on site, and as-built surveys document final conditions for pay quantities, closeout, and long-term monitoring. All data ties to the project control network, so as-builts compare directly against design and previous surveys.

Related Work

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LUC 280-2.96 Maumee River Crossing Project

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Related Capabilities

Dave

Carmien, LS, PE, CH

Group Manager

Indiana

Don

Williams, Jr., PS

Associate Vice President