Welcome to John Chance Land Surveys, Inc.

Images of disaster are quickly fading from the minds of south Louisiana residents in favor of a determined spirit of rebuilding and renewal. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast, leveling nearly everything in their paths. But where did all of the debris go? Much of it still lies on the bottom of the state’s waterways, filtered there by the receding storm surge shortly after the devastation had passed. Everything from refrigerators and stoves to million-dollar yachts and production barges has littered the bottoms of many canals and bayous.

In April of 2006, John Chance Land Surveys, Inc. (JCLS) was sub-contracted to conduct a “Hazards to Navigation Survey: Post Hurricane Katrina” for the United States Coast Guard. The objective of the project was not only to locate and identify potential underwater hazards but also calculate measurements so that total volume of debris could be estimated. The project area encompasses the majority of navigable inland waterways (5 to 30 feet deep) in southeast Louisiana. By using side scan sonar, StarFix.Nav positioning (a Fugro Chance Inc. proprietary graphic positioning and navigation system), and processing software; the goals of project could be attained without delay.

To date, JCLS has completed all three-survey phases. Phase I was comprised of approximately 80 linear miles while Phase II was comprised of approximately 120 linear miles. Phase III consisted of approximately 452 miles for a total of 652 linear miles surveyed.

Data was collected, processed, and interpreted by utilizing the in-house resources of JCLS. Deliverables for this project, which include: position of debris, attributes (length, width, and estimated height) of debris, debris image, and geo-rectified imagery of side scan data were submitted to the GIS contractor. The data collected has revealed extensive submerged hazards which include potentially exposed pipelines, barges, small vessels, rooftops from houses, shipping containers, and trees.

Not only as a deliverable to the client, this data has been useful with other unassociated projects that are located within the area surveyed. It is anticipated that the inventory of underwater hazard data will be helpful to JCLS field crews and future projects within these surveyed waterways.

The dedicated team of John Chance Land Surveys, Inc. has shown its capabilities to provide quality data and present professional deliverables to a project involving two private contractors and a government agency. Additionally and foremost the data was submitted quality controlled and within the assigned deadlines.

For more information about JCLS’ acoustic imaging capabilities, please contact Brad Segura at 337.268.3279.