2012-13 Departmental Performance Report
Program 3.7 – Hydrographic Products and Services
Description
The safe use of Canadian waterways requires knowledge of the physical limitations to navigation. The Canadian Hydrographic Service contributes to safety on Canadian waterways by undertaking hydrographic surveys from primarily Canadian Coast Guard vessels to measure, describe, and chart the physical features of Canada's oceans and navigable inland waters. As Canada's hydrographic authority, the Canadian Hydrographic Service uses this data to produce up-to-date, timely, and accurate navigational products in support of domestic and international marine transportation in accordance with the requirements of the Canada Shipping Act, the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, and the International Maritime Organization's Safety of Life At Sea Convention. In addition to supporting safe and secure waters, hydrographic information is made available for a spectrum of research and development applications in engineering, ocean research, and the renewable and non-renewable energy sectors.
Financial Resources ($ millions)
| Total Budgetary Expenditures (Main Estimates) 2012-13 |
Planned Spending 2012-13 |
Total Authorities (available for use) 2012-13 |
Actual Spending (authorities used) 2012-13 |
Difference 2012-13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26.9 | 26.9 | 30.5 | 30.4 | 3.4 |
Human Resources (full-time equivalents)
| Planned 2012-13 |
Actual 2012-13 |
Difference 2012-13 |
|---|---|---|
| 271 | 253 | -18 |
Performance Results
| Expected Result |
Performance Indicator |
Target | Actual Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Users of Canada's waterways and other interested parties have the products and services they need for safe navigation and other applications on Canada's waterways | Percentage of the planned chart production completed in national priority areas | Minimum 75% of planned chart production is achieved by March 31, 2013 |
Result: 61% Planned production activities were affected by the cumulative impacts of program transformation to embrace new technologies and the associated requirements for training and system configuration. Lesson Learned: Through the Canadian Hydrographic Service National Priority-Setting Framework, the national production planning processes were improved, and now take risks from unforeseen events into consideration. |
| Number and percentage of licence applications for hydrographic products and services that were fulfilled | 95% success in meeting client requests for licensed hydrographic data and products by March 31, 2013 |
Result: 94% Lesson Learned: Performance could be improved through streamlining and increased automation of request process. |
|
| Hydrographic information on Canada's oceans and navigable waters | Average length of time to issue Notices to Mariners by the Canadian Hydrographic Service after source information is received | Average release time within 4 months by March 31, 2013 |
Result: 2.3 months Improved compared to 2011-12 result of 3 months. Remained a high priority due to possible impacts on the safety of mariners. |
| Tide and water-level gauge network and data | Percentage of time that gauges are functioning and transmitting data | 95% by March 31, 2013 |
Result: 93% Gauges functioned and transmitted data 93% of the time. |
Performance Analysis and Lessons Learned
Program Initiatives
Assess Market Opportunity
- Completed a pilot collaboration with the Royal Canadian Navy on the potential use of third-party collected data for charting and reconnaissance applications in Arctic waters, where large unsurveyed areas exist. Pilot led to a greater understanding of alternate technologies and platforms for data collection.
- Put the update of nautical charts and publications to include Small Craft Harbours' Pangnirtung Harbour facility on-hold until the harbour construction is complete and final engineering plans have been provided.
- Enhanced navigational safety by using web-based communication and information notes on products to notify mariners of the risks (especially in Arctic waters) of using navigational products containing historical and legacy hydrographic data.
- Enhanced Canada's vertical geodetic reference system through identification of six new vertical reference models for Canadian tidal waters and the refinement of the associated hydro-dynamic frameworks.
- Worked with the international hydrographic community to leverage their resources and knowledge:
- Completed the Arctic Voyage Planning Guide with the Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission; and
- Concluded a multi-year collaborative effort under the auspices of the United States-Canada Hydrographic Commission to create, in boundary waters, Electronic Navigational Chart coverage that meets international charting standards.
Program Evaluation... In 2012-13, the Department completed the Evaluation of the Hydrographic Products and Services Program.
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