Hong Kong Hydrographic Office purchases FM Hydro + FMGT bundle plus training.

The Hong Kong Hydrographic Office have purchased an IVS3D FM Hydro bundle with a FMGT add-on to assist with their data processing/cleaning/validation efforts for both bathymetry and backscatter. The applications will be used with a variety of data formats including ALL, HS2, S7K, and HDCS, reflective of the two multibeam echo sounder systems currently in operation by the group.

A training course for Hong Kong Hydro personnel was conducted between Aug 1-3 by IVS3D trainer Douglas Bergersen. Seventeen personnel received instruction on all aspects of the Fledermaus software suite including data preparation, an hydrographic workflow template, and backscatter processing / analysis.

Acoustic Imaging provides data processing services to Geoscience Australia.

Geoscience Australia contracted Acoustic Imaging to process, clean, and validate a multibeam echo sounder data set acquired off the coast of Tasmania. The data were distributed as a Caris project (HDCS plus supporting information). All processing, cleaning, and validation was done in the IVS3D Fledermaus product suite with all editing flags written back into the HDCS.

Acoustic Imaging offers a number of processing services to clients throughout Australia and Asia including multibeam echo sounder processing/cleaning/validation, backscatter processing/interpretation, subbottom profiler processing/interpretation, Applanix POS MV data post-processing, and all aspects of offshore data operations (acquisition operators, processing, QC, client representation, etc.).

Acoustic Imaging provides system audit and training services to DENR SA.

Acoustic Imaging personnel visited the DENR SA facility in Adelaide to conduct an audit of their swathe bathymetry system. The system consists of a Geoacoustics Geoswath system interfaced with an Applanix POS Wavemaster. The goal was to assess current offshore operations and suggest improvements for both data acquisition and data processing. A number of issues were identified and an upgrade path was defined that could be immplemented as the department budget supports.

The system audit was followed by 2 days of training on both their IVS3D Fledermaus software and Applanix POSView software. An introduction to the Applanix POSPac MMS software suite was also provided. Course participants left with a better understanding how their system operates and where improvements can be made in the data workflow. A follow-on consulting session is planned for the latter half of 2011.

Gippsland Ports purchases FM Hydro bundle with FMGT and FMGIS add-ons.

Gippsland Ports has purchased an IVS3D FM Hydro bundle to assist with the cleaning, validation, and presentation of the hydrographic data from their new multibeam acquisition system. In addition, the FMGT module was purchased for backscatter processing and the FMGIS module for easy exchange of products between Fledermaus and ArcGIS.

Regional Managing Director Douglas Bergersen states "We are excited to add Gippsland Ports to our expanding list of Port and Harbour clients who recognise the benefits of a Fledermaus component to their hydrographic workflow. We look forward to working with the group to ensure they maximise the capabilities of the software and optimise their ability to deliver data products."

CSIRO Marine National Facility purchases 2 IVS 3D FM Pro bundles

The CSIRO National Marine Facility has purchased two IVS 3D FM Pro bundles to be used in association with the new "blue water" research vessel RV Investigator.

The RV Investigator will have multiple swathe survey systems and the IVS software will assist scientists in efficiently cleaning and analysing the bathymetry and backscatter data. Other instruments onboard the vessel for measuring properties of the water column through space and time may also be incorporated into the Scenes generated in Fledermaus. An upgrade option that may be assessed in the future is the FMMidwater tool currently available from IVS.

IVS Regional Managing Director Douglas Bergersen notes that "IVS have a long commitment in supporting research organisations like CSIRO. We look forward to participating and assisting in their research efforts wherever the vessel may be operating".

DOF Subsea upgrades to unified FM Pro licenses

DOF Subsea Australia have recently upgraded all of their Fledermaus licenses (3) to the FM Pro level. The upgrade was spurred by increased usage of the software both onshore and offshore (data editing, data validation, product generation for end clients).

DOF Data Manager Katherine Butcher states "The upgrade coincided with an extended survey associated with a large LNG Development on the North West Shelf. Consolidating all our licenses to the FM Pro level allows us to take greater advantage of all the new tools being released by IVS 3D, including FMGIS for support of the Seabed Survey Data Model being adopted by many O&G companies".

Saudi Hydro Office purchases IVS 3D FM Pro software suite

The Saudi Arabia Hydrographic Office has purchased an IVS 3D FM Pro bundle to assist with their hydrographic workflow. The sale was brokered by IIC Technologies P/L (India).

Extensive evaluation and testing of the software occurred prior to selecting the IVS 3D bundle as the software of choice for analysing and editing their data. Saudi Hydro personnel have already received training by the IVS UK office, and we look forward to assisting their mapping efforts.

Acoustic Imaging contracted to supply POSPac processing services

Interest and use of Applanix POSPac MMS software products continue to grow in Australia. In addition to sales, support, and training with the software, Acoustic Imaging offers contract services for processing POS MV data files.

Groups who have recently taken advantage of these services include Geomarine Solutions based out of Perth and Geoscience Australia for a test survey in Jervis Bay. For companies requiring only selected use of the higher accuracy SBET solution provided by POSPac contracting these capabilities is cost efficient.

Acoustic Imaging also offers a POS MV for hire and is happy to discuss or process small data sets as a "proof-of-concept". Contact Nicole Bergersen (nbergersen@acousticimaging.com) to discuss further.

L-3 Nautronix purchase AMA for RAN SML Fledermaus licenses

The RAN SML program has renewed its commitment to keeping Fledermaus as an integral part of their hydrographic workflow through the extension of their software maintenance contract through 2013.

The sale was routed through the system developer L-3 Nautronix and ensures the RAN will continue to receive the latest updates available in the IVS product line (including a vastly improved FMGeocoder application, the new FMGIS module for direct information exchange with ArcGIS, and forthcoming improvements in processing speed through multi-threading).

DOF Subsea purchase SonarWiz5 Office for O&G surveys

DOF Subsea Australia have purchased a Chesapeake Technology Inc (CTI) SonarWiz5 Office license for the processing of sidesscan sonar and subbottom profiler data. Continued success in securing survey projects in the O&G industry prompted the purchase.

The ease-of-use and flexibility of SonarWiz5, along with the prompt technical support provided by both CTI and Acoustic Imaging, convinced DOF to select SonarWiz5 over competing products. The software has already received extensive use on surveys in support of the Chevron Gorgon LNG Project.

JP Kenny Australia purchase two IVS 3D FM Pro bundles

Acoustic Imaging announce the sale of 2 IVS 3D FM Pro software bundles to JP Kenny Australia in association with a long term lease of the software.

JP Kenny have been leasing the IVS software over the course of the past year for a couple of offshore engineering projects. The majority of the lease rates were applied to the purchase of permanent licenses for the group.

Acoustic Imaging and IVS 3D offer flexible terms and conditions for software leases applied to purchase. For more information contact Douglas Bergersen at dbergersen@acousticimaging.com.

Maritime Safety Queensland upgrade POS MV hardware and software

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) have purchased a hardware and software upgrade for their Applanix POS MV system. The full GNSS upgrade will allow their POS MV to support a much wider range of RTK formats and also provides more robust performance over longer baselines by implementing the latest Trimble iFlex algorithms.

Acoustic Imaging's Applanix support manager Nicole Bergersen notes that a number of upgrade paths are available for existing POS MV customers and that continued improvements to both hardware and software (with associated improvements in horizontal and vertical accuracy, range of reception, etc.) make participation in the Applanix maintenance program a wise investment.

Contact Nicole at nbergersen@acousticimaging.com to discuss options available for your system.

Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW receive POS Wavemaster and POSPac MMS

The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), NSW received their new Applanix POS Wavemaster for the survey vessel MV Bombora. Acoustic Imaging assisted in the installation and set-to-work procedure for the system in Port Stephens, NSW, while also providing training on the POSPac MMS software.

The POS Wavemaster in the short term will be interfaced with a Geoacoustics Geoswath system for swath mapping of marine park areas throughout NSW territorial waters. Future plans for this DECC investment will extend into estuarine and river environments with another multibeam echosounder system.

The POSPac MMS software will allow DECC NSW to overcome DGPS reception problems in some of the remote areas where they operate while also allowing them to produce bathymetry products with well-defined accuracy estimates. These bathymetry products may be more easily exchanged with other government organisations and may become part of a regional Australian bathymetry data set.

DECC personnel involved in the installation and training, along with Acoustic Imaging's Applanix guru Nicole Bergersen (far right), are shown in the image below.

Department of Transport, WA purchases POSPac MMS software suite

Acoustic Imaging have sold an Applanix POSPac MMS software bundle along with training to the Department of Transport, WA (DoT) in support of their hydrographic operations in remote regions of Australia.

Certified POSPac trainer Nicole Bergersen states "One of the main justifications for this purchase was the high horizontal and vertical accuracy afforded by the Precise Point Positioning solution available through POSPac. The PPP solution can be derived without any supporting base stations, and this is critical in some of the remote regions DoT conduct surveys. The first trial of capabilities for them will occur on a survey around Wyndham in support of new shipping requirements being specified for that port."

Beyond the software sale and training, Acoustic Imaging will continue to provide support to the DoT while their surveyors are in the field. This commitment to product satisfaction extends to all our clients.

IVS 3D FM Offshore sale to PT Wood Group (Indonesia)

IVS 3D announce the sale of a FM Offshore bundle to the PT Wood Group based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This sale follows on from a Fledermaus course held in Perth, WA and attended by PT Wood personnel. The software will be used for pipeline and cable route planning, although the new Interpretation tool available in Fledermaus was also of great interest.

Port of Brisbane purchase Applanix POSPac MMS software suite

Acoustic Imaging have sold an Applanix POSPac MMS software bundle along with training to the Port of Brisbane in support of their hydrographic operations. The training was provided November 2011 and was accompanied by a Fledermaus training course as well.

With the recent privatization of the Port of Brisbane a review of all operating procedures was undertaken in an attempt to improve the quality and efficiency of the products they are providing. The improved horizontal and vertical accuracy associated with the processed SBET solution out of POSPac was deemed a competitive advantage when bidding for external work.

This purchase and training follows on from similar training provided to Maritime Safety Queensland personnel in early November. Interest in the advantages offered by POSPac MMS continues to grow in Australia.

Fledermaus sales in China and Indonesia

IVS 3D continues to expand its client base in Asia with a pair of software bundle sales in China and Indonesia.

The Third Institute of Oceanography in Xiamen, China has recently purchased a FM Pro bundle, while Niko Resources Ltd in Indonesia have purchased a FM Viz4D bundle.

IVS 3D Asia-Pacific Regional Managing Director Douglas Bergersen comments "We continue to see strong interest in the product line in Asia, and as new modules and capabilities are added to the bundles especially in support of the O&G industry we expect more sales to occur to the various survey groups operating out of the SE Asia region."