Charting Success: Looking Beneath the Surface

By Scott Waite, Manager of Hydrographic Services

At Prudent Engineering, our Hydrographic Services team spends their days mapping what most people never see: the underwater foundations that support bridges, seawalls, and waterways. It’s highly technical work—but also deeply rewarding, because it keeps communities safe and helps clients make smart, sustainable choices.

Using advanced sonar systems, GPS, and specialized software, our team creates detailed 3D models of riverbeds, lakebeds, and harbor floors. From small Z-boats in shallow streams to our 33-foot Elco catamaran on the East River, we adapt to any environment. The result is clear, reliable data that engineers can trust.

Project Spotlight: Barnhart Island Bridge – St. Lawrence River, NY

To help the New York Power Authority assess the long-term safety of the Barnhart Island Bridge, we combined multi-beam sonar bathymetry with traditional land survey methodology to produce an elevation model, both above and below the waterline. This gave NYPA a complete picture of the bridge’s foundation conditions, allowing them to plan targeted maintenance with confidence.

Project Spotlight: Pier 15 Seawall – East River, NYC

Working with NYCEDC, our team delivered a high-resolution bathymetric survey to support seawall upgrades at Pier 15. Collecting data in one of the busiest waterways in the country, we provided an engineer-ready dataset that gave design teams the clarity they needed to move forward.

Why This Work Matters

Infrastructure doesn’t stop at the shoreline. Bridges, dams, and seawalls all rely on foundations hidden below the water’s surface. Without accurate data, unseen risks can quickly become real problems.

That’s why our Hydrographic Services team combines state-of-the-art tools with real-world expertise—delivering results that protect both infrastructure and the people who depend on it. At the end of the day, it’s about more than charts and sonar scans: it’s about trust, safety, and building a better future.