Seamless Data, Smarter Decisions: How ABSD Delivered an 11,000-hectare Land-to-Sea Data in 45 Days

In a recent large-scale infrastructure project, AB Surveying & Development delivered a truly above-and-beyond mapping solution. We provided a seamless dataset covering every detail from the high-resolution topographic base maps needed for developments in the mountains to precise bathymetric charts of the new port development at sea. To empower our client, we even included a complimentary Global Mapper software license and hands-on training. This ensured the project team could fully analyze and utilize the survey data themselves. In short, we didn’t just hand over data; we gave a complete, actionable solution backed by tools and support.

With our comprehensive surveying solutions and years of expertise, we were able to combine all relevant survey data into one unified deliverable. From detailed contours and 3D terrain models of the site and transmission corridors to underwater terrain mapping at the port, everything was captured under one contract. To go beyond our commitment in just delivering data, we provided the client with a free Global Mapper license – a powerful GIS platform known for supporting hundreds of data formats and strong lidar and bathymetric analysis tools along with expert training. This means the client can immediately load our survey outputs into Global Mapper and visualize the entire site in 2D and 3D, streamlining their planning and design work.

Project Scope and Details

Our survey effort was both extensive and fast-paced. Covering roughly 11,000 hectares in total, we conducted simultaneous topographic and bathymetric surveys across the entire project area. Remarkably, our team collected all this data in just 45 days, delivering a comprehensive snapshot of the landscape and seafloor. The scope included not only the site itself, but also the transmission line corridor and the proposed port area. By wrapping these together in one campaign, we ensured every piece of the project from mountain ridges to coastal waters was captured within a single, consistent dataset.

Overcoming Terrain Challenges with Aerial LiDAR

The project’s environment posed serious challenges: steep, forested mountains, dense vegetation, and very limited road access. Traditional ground crews would have needed months of clearing access paths and physically carrying equipment through the jungle. Instead, we leveraged airborne LiDAR to overcome these obstacles. By mounting our laser scanner on a Cessna aircraft, we scanned the rugged topography from above, capturing accurate terrain data without ever setting foot on the steep slopes. Airborne lidar is ideal for such situations it “excels at capturing broad topographic lidar maps across challenging or remote regions”. The aircraft flew pre-planned patterns over the mountains and along the proposed power-line route, collecting data at high density and high speed.

For the coastal port area, we used aerial bathymetric lidar to map shallow water depths (See image below for the sample data c/o Riegl). This green-wavelength laser technology penetrates water to record both the water surface and seabed elevations. Mounted on a low-flying plane, the bathymetric lidar gathered vast amounts of nearshore data in a short time. In effect, the same airborne survey captured the transition from land into water, yielding a continuous dataset. Bathymetric LiDAR’s ability to measure underwater terrain directly from the air was crucial for the port design phase.

Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR Sample Output by RIEGL (render of unified Data Showing terrains + shallow waters)

Sample output of Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR for Batangas Project

Point Cloud Bathymetric LiDAR

A Unique, Seamless Data Approach

What truly makes this project unique is the seamless dataset we delivered. The site, the connecting transmission line, and the port development were all surveyed and processed together under a single project. This means the client received one coherent 3D model spanning from the peaks of the mountain range down to the seabed of the coastal zone. There are no mismatched files or datum shifts – everything aligns perfectly.

By merging the topographic and bathymetric data, we essentially created a seamless “mountain-to-sea” map. Such integrated modelling is powerful: it produces high-resolution elevation models that support coastal engineering, flood-risk analysis, and infrastructure planning. In other words, planners can take one look at the data and see how the site ties directly into its port, without gaps or inconsistencies.

The impact of this seamless data collection is felt immediately in the client’s engineering workflows. With a complete and consistent dataset in hand, planners and port engineers can make faster, more confident decisions. High-precision data (often at millimeter accuracy) means fewer field visits and less guesswork what might have required multiple site trips can now be resolved in the office.

The single, connected model also reduces rework: if the mining layout changes, the engineers can instantly check effects on the power line or port design in the same dataset. As one client testimonial put it, they were “amazed at how fast LiDAR mapping was… it almost eliminated the need for physical site inspection”.

In summary, by delivering complete geospatial information from mountain ridge to harbor and equipping the team with the tools to use it, we have significantly streamlined the entire planning and design process for this project. Everything is connected truly a seamless picture from the mountain to the sea

Whether you're planning a large infrastructures, a transmission corridor, or a coastal facility, ABSD delivers accurate and reliable survey data that connects every part of your project from the ridge line to the reef.

Let's talk about how we can support your next big move with fast, accurate, and seamless geospatial solutions.

📩 Email us at info@absurveyingph.net

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