AB Surveying and Development: Fast-Tracking Renewable Energy Projects with Non-Invasive Aerial and Bathymetric LiDAR
In recent years, the demand for onshore renewable energy projects such as solar farms and wind farms has surged, requiring fast and accurate data to ensure efficient project execution. Since 2016, AB Surveying and Development (ABSD) has been at the forefront of addressing these needs with Aerial LiDAR technology, helping developers collect the topographic data necessary to plan and implement their projects efficiently.
However, as the demand for offshore renewable energy projects continues to rise—particularly offshore wind farms—Engr. Antonio “Tony” Botor, founder and General Manager of AB Surveying and Development, recognized the need for a more efficient and precise method of seabed mapping. Traditional methods, like boat-based hydrographic surveys, are time-consuming, costly, and often hampered by weather conditions.
With the support of Riegl and GPS Lands Malaysia, AB Surveying and Development (ABSD) has acquired the first Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR (Riegl VQ-840-G) in Southeast Asia, designed specifically for offshore wind projects. This groundbreaking, non-invasive technology allows developers to rapidly gather accurate seabed data, accelerating project timelines and minimizing environmental impact.
One of the biggest challenges in offshore renewable energy projects is acquiring accurate seabed data to ensure the optimal placement of wind turbines. Traditional hydrographic surveys rely on slow-moving boats, which can take weeks or even months to gather the necessary data.
This is where Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR comes in.
Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR is a cutting-edge technology that uses a specialized green laser to penetrate water and accurately map underwater terrains, such as seabeds, from the sky. It delivers a detailed 3D map of submerged areas, providing the precise data necessary for offshore wind turbine placement and coastal renewable energy projects. With a manned aircraft flying at 130 km/h (70 knots), ABSD can cover large areas in a fraction of the time compared to boat-based surveys, which typically operate at 13 km/h (7 knots). This significant increase in speed translates to faster project execution and cost savings for developers.
“Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR is a game-changer for offshore renewable energy projects,” says Engr. Antonio “Tony” Botor, founder and General manager of AB Surveying and Development. “It allows us to gather detailed seabed data quickly and accurately without disturbing marine environments.”
In addition to seabed mapping, Aerial LiDAR is also revolutionizing the way developers approach AB Surveying and Development has been offering Aerial LiDAR since 2016 to meet the growing demand for onshore renewable energy projects, such as solar farms and onshore wind farms. Aerial LiDAR uses millions of laser pulses per second to create detailed topographic maps, providing developers with the essential data needed to design power plants, access roads, and infrastructure with precision.
“Imagine having 1 million total stations capturing data every second to map the landscape—that’s the power of Aerial LiDAR. It’s faster, more accurate, and more reliable than traditional surveying methods,” says Engr. Botor.
Using the same LiDAR principle but with the ability to penetrate water, Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR introduces a feat that was not possible before the breakthrough technology. This ability to map both land and seabed terrains with speed and precision makes Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR a revolutionary tool for developers working on offshore wind projects.
In addition to its remarkable efficiency, both Aerial LiDAR and Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR align with the renewable energy sector’s commitment to sustainability. These technologies minimize the need for intrusive, ground-based or boat-based surveys, enabling developers to gather crucial data without disturbing sensitive ecosystems or local communities.
“Our goal is to help developers build smarter and faster while reducing their environmental impact. LiDAR is the solution that balances precision with sustainability,” adds Engr. Tony Botor.
By offering fast, accurate, and non-invasive survey solutions, AB Surveying and Development empowers renewable energy developers to accelerate their projects while ensuring minimal environmental disruption.
About ABSD
AB Surveying and Development is a pioneering surveying firm in the Philippines, specializing in Aerial LiDAR, Aerial Bathymetric LiDAR, mobile, and terrestrial LiDAR services. The company is committed to delivering world-class solutions that enable the builders of tomorrow to meet future challenges. With over 30 years of industry experience, AB Surveying and Development has consistently introduced technological innovations to the commercial surveying field. Having successfully completed over 900 projects for more than 200 clients across various industries nationwide, the company takes pride in its contributions. AB Surveying and Development aims to continue expanding its reach, assisting even more businesses in meeting future demands.
About GPS Lands Malaysia
GPS Lands Malaysia stands as a leader in the LiDAR field in Malaysia with near to 15 years of experience, delivering advanced solutions to achieve higher accuracy and efficiency data collection and result analysis. As the sole distributor of RIEGL LiDAR Systems in Southeast Asia, GPS Lands Malaysia offers a comprehensive range of RIEGL LiDAR systems including aerial, terrestrial and mobile platforms, as well as comprehensive software for data acquisition, processing and analysis to produce detailed and accurate geospatial data. The company provides a diverse range of products to meet the needs of multi-disciplinary sectors including surveying, utility, forestry, construction, urban planning and environmental monitoring. Committed to ensuring customer satisfaction and becoming a “Choice Partner”, GPS Lands Malaysia not only provides solutions, but also provides their clients with expert guidance and technical supports, ensuring a smooth integration of LiDAR technology into their projects, helping them to enhance their project outcomes and maximize the value of their investments.
About RIEGL
RIEGL is an international leading provider of cutting-edge technology in airborne, mobile, terrestrial, industrial and UAV-based laser scanning solutions for applications in surveying.
RIEGL has been producing LiDAR systems commercially for over 40 years and focuses on pulsed time-of-flight laser radar technology in multiple wavelengths.
RIEGL’s core smart-waveform technologies provide pure digital LiDAR signal processing, unique methodologies for resolving range ambiguities, multiple targets per laser shots, optimum distribution of measurements, calibrated amplitudes and reflectance estimates, as well as the seamless integration and calibration of systems.
RIEGL’s Ultimate LiDARTM 3D scanners offer a wide array of performance characteristics and serve as a platform for continuing Innovation in 3D for the LiDAR industry.
From the first inquiry, to purchase and integration of the system, as well as training and support, RIEGL maintains an outstanding history of reliability and support to their customers.
Worldwide sales, training, support and services are delivered from RIEGL’s headquarters in Austria and in the USA; main offices in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, UK, and Germany; and a worldwide network of representatives.
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