Kaikoura Coastline UAV Survey

By Eliot Sinclair

Profile
Kaikoura Coastline UAV Survey banner

The client

NCTIR (North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery) was a Government established alliance to rebuild the Kaikōura coastline road and rail corridors following the November 2016 M7.8 earthquake.

As a trusted survey advisor and consultancy to NCTIR for the entirety of the project, we were tasked to develop and test a methodology that wasn’t currently available while ensuring it met the client’s specification and produced reliable results.

The challenge

To infill the intertidal zone with bathymetric data, the NCTIR coastal engineers required a seamless dataset. However, with the rugged nature of the Kaikōura coastline, there was always a gap where topographic data could not be acquired in the surf and intertidal zones. In this area, the LiDAR (laser measurement) could not penetrate the turbid water and it was too dangerous to safely navigate a hydrographic survey vessel near the shore. Furthermore, the acquisition of topographic data on foot posed too great a health and safety risk for survey teams.

The solution

We listened to frustration from the NCTIR engineers and subsequently formulated, tested and developed a successful methodology. Two positioning methods were developed using survey grade total stations and GNSS data loggers; the latter was chosen as the most versatile option.

We developed an innovative solution with a lead weight mounted below our high payload UAV (drone) and a survey grade GNSS receiver to its top. A fixed length was established between the GNSS receiver and the bottom of the lead weight so we could dip the weight on the seabed in a series of transects (which extended over 1km from the shore) to create a section profile of the seabed. These dips were plotted against the hydrographic and LiDAR datasets and the correlation between all of the datasets proved they were all in agreement.

For this project, we were awarded a Trimble Innovation Award in 2018 for demonstrating Innovative Use of Trimble Geospatial Products. We were also presented a Finalist Award for Technical Excellence at the 2019 New Zealand Spatial Excellence Awards.

Services

  • Land surveying
  • Hydrographic surveying
Let’s talk. Smarter project outcomes start with a simple conversation. Find out how we can help you shape a better tomorrow by sending through a quick enquiry.
Kaikoura Coastline UAV Survey
Kaikoura Coastline UAV Survey
Kaikoura Coastline UAV Survey
Kaikoura Coastline UAV Survey

Professionals used in
Kaikoura Coastline UAV Survey

Eliot Sinclair
Eliot Sinclair
Civil Engineers

More projects from
Eliot Sinclair

View more

About the
Professional

Delivering Smarter Project Outcomes.

Eliot Sinclair is a team of land and site development consultants. We’ve earned a reputation as a trusted partner capable of delivering numerous residential, industrial and commercial land developments, and construction projects of any size or complexity. 

Tap into the power of many talented surveyors, planners and engineers working together. Whether you need our services in isolation or as an efficient integrated partnership we have the ability to scale our integrated approach to match our client’s needs. With a long-standing connection to Canterbury and a South Island-wide client base, we bring decades of knowledge and experience to your project. 

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.