Innovation in Underwater

Construction:
Benefits of Real-Time 3D Imaging
Stephen Auld
Managing Director
CodaOctopus Products Ltd.

Subsea 2010 Conference

10th of February 2010

Programme

Introduction to the Echoscope 3D Sonar

Innovative Techniques for Breakwater Construction
Wind Farm Installations using a real-time 3D sonar
ROV Operations for enhanced spatial awareness

Echoscope 3D Imaging Sonar

Worlds first real-time high resolution

3D (or 4D) sonar
Generates over 16,000 beams per
acoustic transmission (ping)
Beam spacing along and across track of
0.39 with standard 375 kHz projector
Ping rate up to 12 Hz, with each ping
being a true 3D dataset
Each beam contains unique X,Y,Z and
Intensity value

Real-Time 3D Operation

Real-Time Imagery

Innovation in Breakwater Construction

The Ras Laffan Port Expansion Project expanding the

existing LNG port at Ras Laffan to become the largest one
in the world

The scope of the expansion works was 20 million m3 of

dredging, 27 million m3 reclamation, two 10 km
breakwaters, and two 6 km causeways

The outer end of the northern breakwater was to be

armoured with over 37,000 Accropodes, of the 3, 4 and 5
m3 sizes.

Accropode Placement

Accropodes are single layer concrete armour units

Produced in a range of sizes, the ones in this project were

3 5 m3

Accropodes must be placed according to a set of rules that

govern their density and the orientation of each block
with regard to the adjacent blocks

With active dredging activity in the area, they must be

positioned and oriented accurately in near zero-visibility
conditions

Accropode Placement the problem

Accropode Placement the solution

To avoid having to man-handle these concrete blocks

underwater, RLNBC developed a hydraulic rotator to allow
crane operators to manipulate the Accropode orientation

This allows the operator to move the block, but he still

cannot see it

Video cameras were attached in various positions but the

low visibility conditions meant that they were not
effective

Accropode Placement the solution

An Echoscope 3D Sonar was installed in January 2008 for

the first time to view the Accropode

It immediately gave the crane operator a view of the block

that was far in advance of what had previously been
possible

RLNBC started working with the Echoscope on the project,

while CodaOctopus went to work optimising the system
for their application

Echoscope Imagery raw data

Development of Construction Monitoring System

AccropodesTM are regular shapes (variable size)

Identify and track blocks based on 3D spatial sonar

data using a real-time geometrical algorithm

Thereby allow operator to easily identify the block

when it is only partially imaged

Chart of area can be viewed, with target block

positions and current target position

Database of as-laid positions and orientations can

be generated

Echoscope Imagery fully referenced

Not just placing blocks

Results

Peter van Gelderen from Van Oord presented a

paper to the Institute of Civil Engineers at the
Coasts, Marine Structures and Breakwaters
conference, presenting this innovative new approach

The results were quite clear

The Echoscope allowed them to operate efficiently

without the constant intervention of divers

The incremental improvements in the software

enhanced the crane operators ability to use the
software, increasing efficiency further

Echoscope Imagery inspecting

structures post-placement

Offshore Wind Farm Installation

Wind Farm Construction

Enhancement of Subsea Spatial Awareness

ROV Application using single ping view

Enhancement of Subsea Spatial Awareness

ROV Application using multi-ping aided data

New High Frequency Sonar

610 kHz with 25 x 25 viewing volume

ROV Monitoring from DP Vessel

viewing the global subsea scene

Thank you

Stephen Auld
Managing Director
CodaOctopus Products Ltd.

Subsea 2010 Conference

10th of February 2010