Website belongs to an official educational in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia always ends with .edu.sa
Secure websites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia use the HTTPS protocol for encryption.
Registered with the Digital Government Authority under number:
20260412890The Master of Hydrographic Surveying program is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required in the field of hydrographic surveying and its related disciplines. The program comprises a combination of core and elective courses, practical and field training, and a supervised research project conducted over one academic semester. All courses are delivered in English, and comprehensive final examinations are held at the end of each academic semester.
International excellence in hydrographic surveying to support and sustain development plans in the marine sector.
Preparing distinguished competencies of post graduates in the field of hydrographic surveying to meet the needs of the development plans and the labor market.
Last Modified Date: 23/07/2026 - 2:10 PM Saudi Arabia Time
| Course Code | Course | Credits | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSS 694 | Scientific Research Methods | 3 | – |
| Description | This course introduces students to the fundamentals of scientific research. It covers research methodologies and ethics, as well as the planning, implementation, and writing of research projects. It also develops students’ skills in preparing presentations and using library resources to support academic research. | ||
| MSS 601 | Advanced Positioning and Navigation Systems | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers positioning and navigation systems including GNSS and INS integrated systems and their integration methods with emphasis on error sources mitigation techniques, and underwater positioning systems. | ||
| MSS 602 | Bathymetric Surveys | 3 | MSS 601 |
| Description | This course covers marine surveying methods and their governing standards and specifications, including acoustic depth measurement and seabed imaging using single-beam, multibeam, and side-scan systems, as well as data processing and analysis techniques. It also addresses non-acoustic methods such as LiDAR and remote sensing, and the integration of acoustic and non-acoustic data to produce bathymetric maps. | ||
| MSS 603 | Ocean and Coastal Zone Management | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the physical and chemical fundamentals as well as biological and geological processes in coastal environments, along with the concept of integrated coastal zone management. It also includes geomatics techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for marine data collection and analysis, as well as the legal framework and policies governing coastal management. In addition, it addresses measurement and data processing techniques using remote sensing, LiDAR, and satellite-based observations. | ||
| MSS 605 | Hydrographic Data Management and GIS | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the collection, processing, and analysis of hydrographic survey data, the production of bathymetric maps and three-dimensional digital terrain models, and the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial databases for managing marine geospatial data and developing spatial data infrastructures. | ||
| MSS 620 | Hydrographic Project Management | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of project management, including tender preparation, project planning and execution, resource management, quality and cost control, project performance evaluation, and the preparation and delivery of project outputs in accordance with project requirements. | ||
| MSS 621 | Directed Studies in Hydrography | 3 | – |
| Description | This course develops practical skills in hydrographic surveying through specialized topics, the use of hydrographic surveying software, and teamwork in planning and implementing hydrographic survey projects. | ||
| MSS 622 | Remote Sensing for Marine Application | 3 | MSS 601 |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of remote sensing using radar, aerial photogrammetry, and LiDAR, with emphasis on data acquisition, analysis, error sources, and mitigation techniques. It also addresses multi-sensor data integration and its applications in hydrographic surveying, coastal zone management, and marine environmental monitoring. | ||
| MSS 623 | Integrated Navigation Systems | 3 | MSS 601 |
| Description | This course covers integrated navigation systems, including coordinate reference frameworks, inertial navigation systems, mathematical models of navigation, and methods for integrating navigation, positioning, and orientation systems. It also addresses their applications in hydrographic surveying and reviews recent research trends and advances in this field. | ||
| MSS 624 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems | 3 | MSS 601 |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of spatial model design and development, including problem definition, conceptual model development, data collection and analysis, output design, and applications in hydrographic surveying. | ||
| MSS 625 | Digital Signal Processing | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of signals and systems, stochastic process analysis, Fourier analysis, spectral estimation methods, digital filtering, least-squares estimation techniques, and the application of Wiener and Kalmat filters for signal processing and data estimation. | ||
| MSS 626 | Advanced Satellite Positioning | 3 | MSS 601 |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of satellite-based positioning, including coordinate reference systems, satellite orbits, signal structure and observations, error sources and mitigation techniques, positioning methods, carrier-phase ambiguity resolution, and their applications in hydrographic surveying, along with an overview of global and regional navigation systems. | ||
| MSS 627 | Oceanographic Surveying and Acoustic | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of physical oceanography, including ocean structure, the water column, circulation and internal waves, sediment dynamics and transport processes, as well as basic marine acoustics and the use of sonar in hydrographic surveying, with practical applications in modern ocean data collection techniques. | ||
| MSS 628 | Sea Floor Characterization | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers sound interaction with the seabed and acoustic imaging and sonar techniques for seabed classification, as well as analysis of acoustic backscatter imagery. It also addresses geological, geotechnical, and morphological characterization of the seabed, optical imaging using video and LiDAR, seabed stability studies, and the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing in seabed classification. | ||
| MSS 629 | Geophysics and Offshore Geodynamics | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of marine geophysics, including gravity and geomagnetic fields and their exploration methods, as well as marine seismic measurements and tsunami studies. It also addresses geodynamic processes, evolution of continental margins, geomorphological structures, and natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis. | ||
| MSS 630 | Marine Geology and Geomorphology | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the structure of the ocean floor and marine provinces, marine geology across different depths with emphasis on coastal and nearshore zones, geomorphological characteristics of the seabed, coastal and nearshore geological processes, as well as sedimentation patterns and landform development. | ||
| MSE 628 | Marine Transport and Economics | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of trade, markets, and international trade, with emphasis on maritime transport systems including design, economic operations, and industry components and their role in the global economy. It also addresses types of shipping, the economic environment of the maritime industry, cost structures, freight rate calculations, and operational efficiency. | ||
| MSE 630 | Marine Renewable Energy | 3 | – |
| Description | This course covers the fundamentals of marine renewable energy, including wind, wave, and tidal energy, along with related policies and regulations. It also addresses technologies for harnessing marine resources, system modeling, and the design, operation, and maintenance of offshore energy converters, as well as associated logistical challenges. | ||
| MSS 699 | Thesis | 8 | – |
| Description | To provide the student with the opportunity to conduct advanced research on a topic selected in consultation with the thesis supervisor. | ||
