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Why Offshore Developers Are Choosing (or Should Choose) Bathymetric LiDAR



Offshore developers face a tightrope walk: speed, accuracy, and environmental sensitivity while navigating regulatory hoops. The seabed doesn’t wait. Currents shift. Shorelines erode. Timelines shrink. In this dynamic environment, delays aren't just inconvenient—they’re costly and potentially destructive to both budgets and ecosystems.


So here’s a question: if we can scan hundreds of hectares from the air in just a few hours non-invasively—why are we still sending boats to inch across coral reefs?

It’s not that boats can’t get the job done. They can—just not quickly, and sometimes invasively. The surveying technology exists to do better, and clinging to slower, riskier methods undermines both efficiency and environmental responsibility.


Mapping even a mid-sized wind farm site via multi-beam sonar on a vessel can take weeks. Add to that the weather delays, permit red tape, and oh—don’t forget the fuel costs. In shallow waters, boats can be more of a threat than a tool. Propellers and anchors damage sensitive coral ecosystems; hulls can scrape seagrass beds; even sonar can disturb aquatic life.


The case for Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR isn’t just technological—it’s ethical, economical, and essential.


Now compare that to Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR. A single plane equipped with a green laser can scan vast areas with shallow waters—in a single flight. We're talking 10x coverage in a fraction of the time. No anchor drops. No stopping for tide schedules. Just high-altitude efficiency. And for offshore mapping needs, especially across expansive zones, that kind of agility is hard to beat.




Bathymetric LiDAR Surveying flies above all that—literally. No contact, no pollution, no accidental damage. For developers operating near marine sanctuaries or protected areas, this isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. It’s the most sustainable way to conduct underwater surveying services while preserving fragile ecosystems.


Cover More, Touch Less!


This is one of those rare tech wins where you can do more by doing less.

Planes equipped with LiDAR systems collect full coverage faster, more accurately, and more efficiently. That means fewer personnel in the field, reduced operational risks, and a shorter deployment window. It also simplifies logistics—less equipment, fewer vessels, and streamlined coordination with local authorities, which is especially crucial in remote or high-security zones.


Oh, and about those permits: aerial surveys often require fewer approvals than marine operations. No need for dive teams. No safety boats. No invasive deployment. Just a flight plan and air clearance (including our permit from CAAP to do Aerial Works), and you’re rolling (or flying, rather). And when you're aiming for comprehensive seabed mapping in a tight timeline, that kind of ease matters. It accelerates the pre-construction phase, aligns better with sustainability standards, and gets data into decision-makers’ hands exactly when they need it.


Let’s clear something up: just because it’s fast doesn’t mean it’s “rough” data.

Bathymetric LiDAR uses green laser pulses that penetrate clear water, bouncing off the seabed to generate highly accurate, 3D topographies. Even with surface chop or moderate turbidity, it can produce sub-meter accuracy—enough to spot underwater ridges, map coastal drop-offs, and identify submerged hazards. That kind of precision elevates underwater mapping from exploratory to definitive.



ABSD Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR in Action (Sample Project)

Every offshore project today comes with an environmental checklist—and for good reason. Whether you’re pitching for a wind farm concession or evaluating an aquaculture expansion, environmental regulators want to see not just what you're doing, but how you’re doing it.

Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR minimizes carbon emissions compared to extended boat surveys. It avoids marine disruption. And because it completes the job faster, it reduces exposure time and operational footprint. In other words, it's ESG-friendly without greenwashing—and that’s a big win in the future of underwater surveying services.


So… Why Isn’t Everyone Using It Yet?

  • Familiarity of LiDAR surveying technology

  • Cost (However, when the area is below 50 hectares, the costs of traditional and LiDAR become comparable)


Honestly? Adoption still has barriers.

But that’s changing—especially now that AB Surveying & Development (ABSD) has introduced this service in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. As the first in the region to deploy Bathymetric LiDAR from manned aircraft, ABSD is closing the technology gap in offshore mapping and bringing global innovation closer to home.


What makes this even better?


ABSD pairs survey-grade tech like the Aerial Topographic Surveying and Aerial Bathymetric surveying with 20+ years of experience in surveying in the Philippines, knowing how to navigate coastal permits, weather patterns, and environmental guidelines specific to Philippine terrain. We don’t just drop in from the sky. We coordinate, plan, and support from end to end—ensuring developers don’t just get maps, they get useful ones which helps them create smarter decisions.


Speed. Accuracy. Sustainability. Simplicity.


Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR hits all the marks that offshore developers care about. With solutions now available locally through ABSD, it’s no longer a “nice to have”—it’s the smart move. If your project depends on data (and let’s face it, they all do), maybe it’s time to stop choosing between speed, accuracy, and impact. You can have them all—from above.


ABSD believes that the future of surveying should not compromise on data quality. It is possible to obtain both fast and accurate data without compromising on either. The future of underwater mapping is HERE—and we are here to offer you world-class surveying services.

Interested in having us be a part of your project?



 
 
 

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