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RICS / THS – SW Region, Plymouth5th May 2009

Hawk Eye II Bathymetric LiDARResults from 2008

First Year of Commercial Operation

Dan SchnurrDirector, Laser Scanning

Blom Aerofilms Limited, UK

Contents

• Short Introduction to Blom

• Summary of LiDAR Bathymetry

• Moving to Commercial Operations

• 2008 – Projects and Results

• 2009 – another year, another survey…

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Who Are The Blom Group?

• A leading provider of geo-referenced data for mapping, navigation and location-based services

• Business concept: capturing / processing / modelling / databases / applications & services

• Market Capitalization: Approximately NOK 0.7 billion (€70m)

• 1,200 employees across Europe

The Blom GroupThe Blom Group

• Europe’s largest aerial survey companyRevenue 2007: Euro 100 millionAccess to capital markets

• Offices in 12 European countriesHead office OsloOver 1,000 highly qualified staff

• Access to the latest technoloy33 aerial survey aircraft & 4 helicopters11 laser scanners (including bathymetric)20 digital & analogue surveys cameras55 Pictometry cameras

• Business conceptAerial acquisitionData processingDatabase creationData delivery

• One stop solution

Blom ASA

Blom Katta

Blom Aerofilms

Blom Spain

Blom Italy

Blom Deutschland

Blom Info

Blom INFO Geonet

Blom Sweden

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Blom Blom resourcesresources

Europe’sEurope’s largestlargest fleetfleet ofof aircraftsaircrafts, , camerascameras and and Lidar instruments for data Lidar instruments for data capturecapture

Business Transformation

2003 2004 2006 2008

• Collecting / Processinggeographical data

• Contracting

• Creating European structure

• Building geographicaldatabases (scalability)

• Multiple sales

• Value chainexpansion

• Developing location-based services

• Developingapplications and services

• Data storage• GPS-enabled handsets• High bandwidth• Graphical processing and display

Key drivers and developments in the market

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Blom Geo Engineering Services (BGES) Blom Information

Services (BIS)

Enhanced PND & Mobile Phone

NavigationBathymetry

CorridorEngineering

Infrastructure, Urban & Rural

Planning

EnvironmentForestry

Hydrology

Online Map Services

Land / Property AdministrationTelecom

EmergencyServices

Applications & Services: Our Market Approach

Defence & Security

Location BasedServices (LBS)

Aerial photography Laser scanning Mapping

3D modelling Bathymetric survey Navigation

Business areasBusiness areas

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Technical Overview of System

• System Design and capabilities

• System calibration• Data Acquisition

AircraftGround Control

• Data Processing

System Design

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System Principle

The Measurement Chain

Sensor controller

Hydro Sensors, 4 pixel, 2 channels

Topo Sensor, 8 pixel

Preamplifiers, TVG

Digitizers 1GHz, 8 bit

Timing circuits

Filter Controllers

Receiver Optics

Imaging, 180 mm aperture

Scanner

Roll, yaw, pitch, altitude, speed and side compensations

Hydro laser

1 kHz, 5 mJ, 5 ns, air cooled, diode pumped

Topo laser

8 kHz, 5ns, IR

Compact PCI

Data storage

Pentium 4 PC

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The Position Chain

The Image Chain

1600 * 1200 pixels, time synchronized with GPS.

Digital Camera

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System Specifications

System Specifications

• Key technical data4 kHz bathymetric data collection (full waveform)64 KHz topographic data collectionSimultaneously bathy and topoImage – Typical 25 cm resolution on groundSwath up to 0.55 times altitudeDepth penetration typical 2-3 times secchi depthTotal system weight < 180 kgPower consumption < 50 A on 28 VDC supply

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System Specifications

Hydro Laser Pixels Topo Laser Pixels

Scan Pattern

2.9m spot 1.45m cells

The return from each green (bathymetric) laser pulse is electronically scanned to produce four soundings per 2.9m spot = 1.45m soundings per pulse

The laser spotThe laser spot

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System Calibration

• Factory CalibrationsLaser alignmentPixel range calibrationAbsolute range calibration

Hydro Laser Pixels

Topo Laser Pixels

System Calibration

• Field CalibrationsPitch, Roll and HeadingAbsolute range in water and on land

• TerramatchIdentify Heading, Roll and Pitch misalignmentsApply corrections to point cloud

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Detection of 2m cubeLake Vättern bathymetry showing the location of the cube

IHO Order 1 complianceIHO Order 1 compliance

Installation in Aero Commander 690

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Airborne Survey

• Automatic Attitude CompensationRemoves effect of aircraft attitude/position errors such as:

• Pitch, Roll and Yaw error• Cross track error• Altitude deviation• Speed deviation

The required overlap between adjacent flight lines is minimized

Airborne Survey

• Pilot monitor Guides the pilot towards the selected flight line

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Ground Control

• GPS Base StationIf no continuously operating station are available

• Ground Control Area (GCA)Multiple 10mx10m areas are surveyed with PPK and used for

data QC

• Sea Control Area (SCA)Multiple 50m x 50m areas are surveyed with single beam (or multibeam) and used for QC

• Secchi Disk measurements• Tide gauge data

Initial data post processing

Measurement data

Reference station

Position data

Reference (RINEX) dataPOSPactrajectory processing

Positions

Coastal Survey Studio

Customer with Coastal Survey Viewer

Point cloud-data

Raw data

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Advantages to Hawk Eye

• 4x the data compared to other systems on the marketMore coverage in less time

• Simultaneous collection of Bathymetric and Topographic dataReduced acquisition timeBetter system calibration

• Attitude compensation includes pilot off track compensationLine spacing can be reduced for more coverage

• High Altitude Upgrade

155kts330m4.5 x 4.5500m

155kts290m4.0 x 4.0450m

155kts220m3.5 x 3.5400m

SPEEDSWATHPOST SPACINGALTITUDE

Moving to Commercial Operations…

• Blom ownership

Majority in 2007 and 100% in 2008

• Issues to solve…Operations…Staffing…Data Processing…

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Improved Airborne Operations Team

• Full staff rotation in with two full teams in place• Global capability, aircraft solution to cover all continents

Processing Capacity 2009

• Core processing staff• Additional staff “on-tap” as required• Processing manager• Technical manager• Processing capacity now over 50sqkm / week

• Deliverable formats & products– CSS raw data (Point cloud & wave

form)– Gridded DTM & DEM– Ortho photos– Charting– Reflectance

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Projects undertaken in

• France• Sweden• Finland• Taiwan• United States• Germany• Denmark• Norway• UK• Ireland• Spain• Australia

• Environment and Habitat

• Coastal Engineering

• Nautical Charting

Hawk Eye Hawk Eye –– Applications and ProjectsApplications and Projects

USASpain

ROW

France Ireland

Sweden

Denmark

GermanyUK

A high density Bathymetric LiDAR survey of 3 priority bays on thA high density Bathymetric LiDAR survey of 3 priority bays on the west coast of Ireland was carried out for GSI as part of the e west coast of Ireland was carried out for GSI as part of the integrated mapping for the sustainable development of Irelands mintegrated mapping for the sustainable development of Irelands marine resource. The accuracy was better than arine resource. The accuracy was better than ±±25cm; 2m 25cm; 2m post spacing with Shoal bias xyz for the whole area. Sun illuminpost spacing with Shoal bias xyz for the whole area. Sun illuminated images and charting was produced for the project along ated images and charting was produced for the project along with full color 25cm GSD orthophotos for all 3 bays.with full color 25cm GSD orthophotos for all 3 bays.

€€300,000300,000Value:Value:Hawk Eye MKIIHawk Eye MKIISensor:Sensor:GSIGSIClient:Client:

20082008Date:Date:Charting / CoastalCharting / CoastalApplication:Application:Seabed mapping of IrelandSeabed mapping of IrelandProject:Project:

ApplicationApplication––Charting / CoastalCharting / Coastal

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A high density Bathymetric LiDAR survey of 3 areas around the soA high density Bathymetric LiDAR survey of 3 areas around the south and east coast of Taiwan was required for the Ministry uth and east coast of Taiwan was required for the Ministry of Interior in Taiwan. The sites were selected to best promote tof Interior in Taiwan. The sites were selected to best promote the capability of the Hawkeye system and the project was seen he capability of the Hawkeye system and the project was seen as a precursor to a larger bathymetry project in 2010. The delivas a precursor to a larger bathymetry project in 2010. The deliverables required for the client included bathymetric and erables required for the client included bathymetric and topographic points clouds and 25cm GSD orthos photos.topographic points clouds and 25cm GSD orthos photos.

€€270,000270,000Value:Value:Hawk Eye MKIIHawk Eye MKIISensor:Sensor:Ministry of Interior (MOI)Ministry of Interior (MOI)Client:Client:

20082008Date:Date:Coastal mappingCoastal mappingApplication:Application:TaiwanTaiwanProject:Project:

ApplicationApplication––Coastal mappingCoastal mapping

The end clients were specifically interested the Hawk Eye MKII sThe end clients were specifically interested the Hawk Eye MKII system capability and accuracy, so agreed project areas near ystem capability and accuracy, so agreed project areas near the Iberian peninsular in the south and the Bay of Biscaythe Iberian peninsular in the south and the Bay of Biscay in the north of Spain were flown. The required accuracy was IHOin the north of Spain were flown. The required accuracy was IHOOrder 1 flown at 300m to give a final post spacing of 0.5 Order 1 flown at 300m to give a final post spacing of 0.5 –– 0.8m on land and 1.8 0.8m on land and 1.8 –– 3.3m in the sea for INTA. The clients for the 3.3m in the sea for INTA. The clients for the northern projects were interested in the comparison of existing northern projects were interested in the comparison of existing topographic and bathymetric LiDAR captured prior, with the topographic and bathymetric LiDAR captured prior, with the current data acquired by the Hawkeye MKII system. A comparative current data acquired by the Hawkeye MKII system. A comparative study was required highlighting all results. Results from study was required highlighting all results. Results from INTA and INTA and GaztelugatxeGaztelugatxe can be seen below.can be seen below.

€€250,000250,000Value:Value:Hawk Eye MKIIHawk Eye MKIISensor:Sensor:Various Inc INTA, AZTIVarious Inc INTA, AZTIClient:Client:

20082008Date:Date:Inter coastal zone mappingInter coastal zone mappingApplication:Application:Spanish coastal mappingSpanish coastal mappingProject:Project:

Application Application –– Inter coastal zone mappingInter coastal zone mapping

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Application – Coastal Margin

An airborne Bathymetric LiDAR survey was carried out in BrittanyAn airborne Bathymetric LiDAR survey was carried out in Brittany, France to produce a DEM of the seabed surface. Blom , France to produce a DEM of the seabed surface. Blom Aerofilms completed the project of the two estuary areas in St Aerofilms completed the project of the two estuary areas in St MaloMalo and and MorlaixMorlaix, and produced the final tiled DEMs to the , and produced the final tiled DEMs to the required Lambert 93 projection.required Lambert 93 projection. The Survey produced a DEM of the seabed surface and the surroundThe Survey produced a DEM of the seabed surface and the surrounding littoral zone. ing littoral zone. Blom Aerofilms also undertook a FCIR imagery survey of the area Blom Aerofilms also undertook a FCIR imagery survey of the area using the Vexcel UltraCAM, processed this imagery and using the Vexcel UltraCAM, processed this imagery and bathymetric LiDAR data to produce the final tiled DEMs and orthobathymetric LiDAR data to produce the final tiled DEMs and orthos to the required Lambert 93 projection.s to the required Lambert 93 projection.

€€140,000140,000Value:Value:Hawk Eye MKIIHawk Eye MKIISensor:Sensor:IFREMERIFREMERClient:Client:

20082008Date:Date:Coastal Margin survey Coastal Margin survey Application:Application:Brittany bathymetric LiDARBrittany bathymetric LiDARProject:Project:

Brittany bathymetric LiDAR data

Project Results, Example 1

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Project Results, Example 2

System Upgrades Completed 2008

• Multiple pulse return for topographic Laser – 1st, 2nd, 3rd and last return now captured and processed for increased vegetation penetration along the shoreline

• POS/AV 510 with Sagem IMU• High altitude upgrade to allow cost effective medium resolution

surveys at 500m (1500ft) above ground / sea surface level

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Hawk Eye II – System Upgrade Options 2009

• Integration of Raman ChannelImproved water surface detection

• Improved field magnification in Green channelsSimplifies the system settings in the air (less sensitive to variations in the water conditions)

• Improved temperature compensation of the topographic receiver opticsHigher sensitivity in the topographic channels

• Improved constant fraction board for topographic pulse detectionIncludes pulse energy integration

• Changed wavelength of the topographic laser from 1064 Nm to 1030 Nm)Improved topographic sensitivity

• Integration of sensor intoone mechanical frame

More robust cabling between sensor controlunit and sensor head (internal cabling only)Reduced total weight (from 180 kg to 140 kg)Easier serviceability of the sensor

• New camera with higher resolution (16 MP)Improved image quality

islade@blomaerofilms.com

Thank YouAny questions?