These surveys are performed generally within one to two miles from a shore that is subject to open ocean influences of waves, swells, tides and winds. Typical applications for nearshore surveys are: cable routing; obstructions to navigation; construction surveys (wharves, groins, jetties); dredging disposal sites.
Benthic elevations for these types of surveys require corrections for all of the vessel displacements – heave, pitch, roll, heading, etc. – that are present in ocean environments.
Also, these surveys may be for position only, when vertical information is not critical to the end data set, such as anchorage placements, buoy location, etc.