Fugro has been awarded a contract for an Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry (ALB) survey in New Zealand by LINZ (Land Information New Zealand). Data will be collected during December 2011 to IHO Order 1a standard to enable the use of ALB technology to be evaluated as a suitable tool for hydrographic surveys for nautical charting.
The survey areas include the Common Dataset for the Shallow Survey 2012 Conference in Wellington in the North Island and an area adjacent to the Abel Tasman National Park in the South Island. The data from these surveys will enable LINZ to compare ALB with traditional hydrographic survey methodologies and techniques, specifically in terms of achieving depth accuracies and target detection in varying water depths and environmental conditions.
This project follows on from previous ALB projects conducted by Fugro in Australia and Europe utilising the Fugro LADS Mk 3 ALB system, which uses a sophisticated laser sensor fitted to an aircraft to accurately measure water depth and collect supporting data over both the marine and coastal zone environments. The system has been engineered and built by Fugro for safe, high-speed and cost effective surveys in clean, shallow coastal areas in depths of up to 80 metres and is available for deployment world wide.
