Australasian Hydrographic Society

The Australasian Hydrographic Society (AHS) is a professional, not-for-profit organisation serving people and institutions involved in hydrography and related maritime disciplines across Australia, New Zealand, the South West Pacific and South East Asia. Its community includes practitioners, researchers, educators, government representatives and industry participants connected with maritime and port services, hydrographic surveying, undersea exploration, offshore oil and gas, coastal infrastructure and other activities that depend on accurate knowledge of the seabed and waterways. Hydrography has direct importance for safe navigation, port development, offshore construction, resource projects, environmental management, recreation and tourism. In the Australasian region, demand for reliable hydrographic information has been associated with offshore development on the north-west coast of Western Australia, coal-export infrastructure in Queensland, expanding maritime trade and the need to navigate sensitive environments such as the Great Barrier Reef. The field also supports national security, border protection, emergency response and humanitarian operations. AHS presents hydrography as a broad common discipline linking maritime nations and serving both practical and scientific interests. The society originated as the Australasian branch of The Hydrographic Society, an organisation established in 1972. That earlier body had five autonomous national branches, including Australasia, the Benelux countries, Denmark, the United Kingdom and the United States. By around 2000, the branch structure was considered unsuitable for the organisations' future needs. The branches subsequently moved toward independent national or regional bodies linked through a new International Federation of Hydrographic Societies. AHS was incorporated in Australia on 5 August 2002 and became a registered not-for-profit public company. AHS is organised through geographically based regions and divisions. Its structure includes the East Australia Region, West Australia Region, New Zealand Region and South West Pacific Region. It also includes the Australia on the Map Division, a transnational division focused on the history and heritage of hydrography, mapping and exploration rather than a single geographic territory. Governance is provided by an elected Council comprising office-bearers such as a president, secretary and treasurer together with regional representatives. The society is a member of the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies. Activities include technical meetings, seminars, symposia, reports, social and professional gatherings, educational initiatives and public awareness work. The society also contributes to the development and discussion of international standards, protocols, surveying practices and technical specifications. Regional and divisional publishing has included newsletters and specialist conference or historical material. The New Zealand Region previously issued The Boustrophedon, while the Australia on the Map Division produces the electronic newsletter Map Matters and has supported publications concerning Australian cartographic history, including proceedings on the 1811 Freycinet Map. AHS has also played a convening role in international hydrographic events. It hosted or supported Hydro conferences in Christchurch in 2003, Cairns in 2007 and Fremantle in 2011. Its awards activity includes an annual Education Award for students in hydrographic and related fields, as well as broader annual society awards recognising contributions by individuals, groups and corporate bodies. The organisation is therefore best understood not as a consumer-facing product brand but as a professional network, knowledge platform and representative body for the regional hydrographic community.

The Australasian Hydrographic Society developed from the Australasian branch of The Hydrographic Society, which was founded in 1972. The earlier organisation operated through five autonomous branches covering Australasia, the Benelux countries, Denmark, the United Kingdom and the United States. As the hydrographic profession and its regional institutions developed, the branch arrangement became increasingly difficult to maintain. Around 2000, the participating organisations decided to establish separate national or regional bodies and to connect them through a new international federation. The Australasian body was incorporated on 5 August 2002 and registered in Australia as a not-for-profit public company. Its remit covers Australia, New Zealand, the South West Pacific and South East Asia. Rather than limiting itself to one technical specialty, the society brings together interests in hydrographic surveying, maritime navigation, ports, offshore resources, undersea exploration, coastal and marine infrastructure, education, standards and hydrographic history. The organisation's regional relevance reflects the economic and strategic importance of marine information. Offshore oil and gas development in Western Australia, coal-export facilities in Queensland, growing regional trade and navigation through environmentally sensitive areas have all increased the need for accurate and current hydrographic data. Hydrography also contributes to recreation, tourism, national security, border protection, disaster response and humanitarian assistance. AHS seeks to represent these overlapping interests and to promote hydrography as a discipline with broad value to maritime societies. AHS operates through the East Australia Region, West Australia Region, New Zealand Region and South West Pacific Region. The Australia on the Map Division is organised around a subject area rather than a geographic region and focuses on mapping, exploration and hydrographic heritage. The society is governed by a Council composed of elected office-bearers and representatives of its regions. It is affiliated with the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies. Its program has included professional meetings, seminars, conferences, technical reports, educational activities, social events and efforts to improve awareness of hydrography. The society and its divisions have also participated in the development and promotion of standards, protocols and technical specifications relevant to hydrographic surveying. Publication activity has included the former New Zealand newsletter The Boustrophedon, the Australia on the Map Division's Map Matters electronic newsletter and specialist proceedings such as material relating to the Freycinet Map of 1811. The society has hosted major international Hydro conferences in Christchurch in 2003, Cairns in 2007 and Fremantle in 2011. It supports professional development through an annual Education Award for students studying hydrographic or related subjects. Its wider annual awards recognise achievement and contribution by individuals, groups and corporate bodies across the hydrographic community. Through these activities, AHS functions as a professional association, regional representative body, educational supporter and custodian of hydrographic knowledge and heritage.

• 2011

  Hydro 2011 in Fremantle

  [1]Australasian Hydrographic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society hosts the international Hydro conference in Fremantle, Western Australia.

• 2007

  Hydro 2007 in Cairns

  [1]Australasian Hydrographic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  AHS hosts Hydro 2007 in Cairns, Australia, focusing attention on hydrography in the Asian and Australasian region.

• 2003

  Hydro 2003 in Christchurch

  [1]Australasian Hydrographic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society hosts the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies' Hydro conference in Christchurch, New Zealand.

• 2002

  Australasian Hydrographic Society incorporated

  [1]Australasian Hydrographic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society is incorporated in Australia on 5 August 2002 as a not-for-profit public company.

• 2000

  Branch structure reconsidered

  [1]Australasian Hydrographic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The existing international branch arrangement is judged no longer workable, leading to plans for independent national or regional societies linked by a new international federation.

• 1972

  The Hydrographic Society is founded

  [1]Australasian Hydrographic Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation from which the Australasian branch developed is established, later providing the original institutional framework for several autonomous national branches.

A regional professional society and knowledge network for hydrography, hydrographic surveying, maritime infrastructure, navigation, offshore development and related sciences.

• Professional events · 2003

  Hydro conferences

  International and regional conferences convened with the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies, bringing together hydrographic professionals, public authorities, educators and industry participants. Documented AHS-hosted events include Hydro 2003 in Christchurch, Hydro 2007 in Cairns and Hydro 2011 in Fremantle.

• Educational program

  Education Award

  An annual award supporting and recognising students studying hydrography or related disciplines. It reflects the society's role in professional development and in building the future regional hydrographic workforce.

• Professional recognition

  Australasian Hydrographic Society Awards

  Annual awards recognising merit, achievement and contribution by individuals, groups and corporate bodies across hydrography and associated activities.

• Electronic publication

  Map Matters

  An electronic newsletter produced by the Australia on the Map Division, covering hydrographic, cartographic and exploration history and heritage.

• Historical publication · 2012

  The Freycinet Map of 1811 proceedings

  Proceedings from a symposium commemorating the bicentenary of the publication of the first map of Australia, produced through the Australia on the Map Division and documenting the society's historical and heritage work.

1. 1Australasian Hydrographic Societyen.wikipedia.org