SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Undertake acoustic positioning systems monitoring 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14437  Undertake acoustic positioning systems monitoring 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Surveying 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Physical Planning, Design and Management 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard has been developed for the surveying occupational area and is intended for persons who aim to achieve career advancement by gaining surveying skills leading to a qualification based on unit standards. A person who has successfully completed this unit standard is able to monitor and control all aspects of Underwater Acoustic Positioning Systems in any working environment.

A person credited with this unit standard is able to:
  • Prepare Acoustic equipment
  • Calculate transponder deployment positions and deploy transponder
  • Monitor all aspects of the acoustic positioning system
  • Scrutinise measured range and fix accuracy`s 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    NQF Level 3 numeracy. Computer literacy. The ability to Deploy and Recover Underwater Positioning Transponders and undertake Differential Satellite Positioning will facilitate better understanding and proficiency in this unit standard.

    Recognition of prior learning.
    Any learner wishing to be assessed may arrange to do so without having to attend additional education and training. The learner and assessor will decide jointly on the most appropriate assessment procedure 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Prepare acoustic positioning equipment 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Job instruction received from appropriate personnel. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Transponder numbers for charging confirmed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    2. Transponder numbers for charging confirmed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    3. Transponders set for charging. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    4. Ensure that both battery packs are charging. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    5. Ensure that all connections are properly cleaned and in place after charging. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    6. Reset all transponder parameters. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    7. Visually examine entire transponder for any defects. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    8. Liase with deck department to set up transponder weights and shackles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
    9. Check that all weights and shackles are secure. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 11 
    10. Obtain status, depth battery count and voltage for each transponder. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 12 
    11. Arrange for transponder deployment with deck department. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 13 
    12. Apply operational safety rules and standard or operational procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    An understanding of acoustic telemetry and the basic components of acoustic beacons is demonstrated.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 14 
    13. Applicable task specific legal and safety requirements are understood and explained 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Calculate positions and deploy transponders 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Identify positions for transponder deployment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Enter Co-ordinates into the display computer. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Calculate Joins from vessel position to proposed transponder positions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Ensure that deck department has correct positions and deployment sequence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Ensure that correct transponders are deployed in desired positions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Apply operational safety rules and standard or operational procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    An understanding of survey trilateration techniques and the Acoustic Positioning System is demonstrated.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Monitor all aspects of APS 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Ensure that the tow fish or dunker is deployed at the correct depth. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Ensure that the Programmable Acoustic Navigator serial port is correct and navigation is temporarily paused. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Request battery-count, voltage, elapsed time and status from each compat on a daily basis. Ensure that error checks all equal zero. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Book data on relevant forms and inform senior surveyor of any abnormalities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Apply operational safety rules and standard or operational procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    A basic understanding of the Acoustic Positioning System and good written communications is demonstrated.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Scrutinise measured range and fix accuracy's 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Ensure that depths and sound velocities for different targets are correct. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Ensure that system accuracy is maintained and inform the senior surveyor of any abnormalities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Identify bad ranging transponders and inform the senior surveyor. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Isolate possible sources of underwater noise interference. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Apply operational safety rules and standard or operational procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    An understanding of the Acoustic Positioning System is demonstrated.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
    2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or will assess this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA ad register with the FE / HE registrar.
    3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.

    Therefore anyone wishing to be assessed against this unit standard may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    1. Essential embedded knowledge is dealt with under the specific outcomes section where Display KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING" is required.
    2. Range statements are included with specific outcomes as necessary.
    3. The following critical cross-field outcomes are covered in this unit standard under the specific outcomes section. They are not assessed directly, but are assessed holistically through the outcomes as indicated in the following tabulation 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Solve problems 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team/group/organization or community 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organize and manage oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, organize and critically evaluate information 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematics and language skills in the modes of oral and written presentations 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically (showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others) 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to the full development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    For an applicant to register as an assessor, the applicant needs:
  • A minimum of 2 (two) years` practical, relevant occupational experience
  • Declared competent in all the outcomes of the National Assessor Unit Standards as
    stipulated by SAQA

    Detailed documentary proof of educational qualification, practical training undergone, and experience gained by the applicant must be provided (Portfolio of Evidence) 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
  • *The relevant information for Theory and Principles are contained in one or more of the following documents:
  • Training manuals
  • Survey Codes of Practice
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Manufacturers` manuals
  • Standard Task Procedures
  • Risk Assessment Documentation
  • Working Guides
  • Manufacturers` Manuals and Specifications
  • Professional Publications
  • United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association guidelines
  • **The appropriate Statutory and Legal sections are contained in one or more of the following documents:
    * Surface Surveying
  • Land Survey Act and Regulations
  • Professional and Technical Surveyor`s Act
    * Minerals Surveying
  • Mine Health and Safety Act 29/1996
  • Mineral Act (Act 50 of 1991)
  • Personal protective equipment means, but is not limited to, overall, hard hat, safety footwear, hand protection and harness or lifelines.
  • Hazardous and sub-standard conditions mean, but are not limited to, strong wind, rough sea, low visibility and low temperature.
  • Work related hazards and associated risks mean, but are not limited to, water on deck, slippery deck, cluttered deck, ropes and lines stored on deck, heavy moveable objects, power points and anything that might compromise good seamanship.
  • Survey point means, but is not limited to, survey station, beacon, stakes, marks, topography, features, transponder, transducer, responder or combinations of these.
  • Communicated means, but is not limited to, verbal communication, radio transmission and telephone. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  20487   National Certificate: Hydrographic Surveying  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CETA 
    Elective  20486   National Certificate: Surveying  Level 4  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Raubex Construction Pty (Ltd) 
    2. TSK Projects(PTY)LTD 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.