Fugro, under contract with the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), has been awarded a new task order to conduct hydrographic surveys utilising Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry (ALB) as part of the Canadian government’s Arctic Charting and Mapping Pilot Project. The project includes seabed mapping to aid in the search for Franklin Ships Erebus and Terror. The ALB surveys are being conducted in conjunction and coordination with CHS’ vessel based surveys from CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The task order, which has been issued under a 3-year contract that Fugro holds with CHS, also supports their charting programs in the Canadian Arctic.

Fugro’s ALB system is capable of efficiently collecting data from various airborne platforms over a variety of marine and land environments such as inter-tidal zones and coastal regions. In addition to collecting simultaneous elevation/depth information over land and water, it is also capable of acquiring aerial imagery using its integrated, high-resolution digital camera for both quality control and the production of orthorectified photo mosaic products.

The ALB system achieves a highly efficient coverage rate of up to 70km2 per hour at IHO Order 1 positioning and depth accuracies. In addition to traditional bathymetry information it also derives seafloor reflectance information from the LIDAR return signals, which can be used to produce high quality seabed imagery that shows changes in homogeneous bottom type and can be used to accurately classify the seafloor environment for activities such as geologic and habitat mapping.

Fugro provides ALB products and services worldwide to public and private sector clientele as a rapid and cost-effective solution to near shore hydrographic survey needs where scale of the project; time constraints and user safety are of primary concern.

For further information please email barry.ryan@fugro.com