The objectives of hydrographic surveying can be stated as follows:-

1. To determine navigation routes or prepare nautical charts using surface data to construct navigation channels in rivers and ocean stretches

2. To undertake underwater investigations to collect data for designing port and harbour facilities

3. To determine the extent of scouring and silting in subaqueous floors to calculate areas and volumes

4. To plan engineering projects such as bridges, dams, and reservoirs

5. To determine the shorelines of water bodies

6. To collect discharge data by measuring flows in rivers, etc.
7. To collect data about tides and determine the mean sea level.