Unique Group conducts a one-of-its-kind Underwater Technology User Seminar in the Middle East

SHARJAH, UAE - April 20, 2015 - PRLog -- Unique Group (UG), one of the world’s leading integrated turnkey subsea and offshore solution providers, in association with Kongsberg Maritime and Bayanat for Mapping & Surveying Services is conducting an unprecedented survey event in the Middle East. The event titled “Underwater Technology User Seminar 2015” is being held in Abu Dhabi, UAE from the 20^th to the 22^nd of April, 2015.

Bayanat provides end-to-end geospatial services for a range of businesses across diverse sectors including defence, municipality, oil and gas, transportation and utilities. Bayanat’s value offering includes surveying (aerial, hydrographic, field & geodesy), spatial data management, cartography and visualization (2D & 3D) and relevant advisory services.

Kongsberg Maritime delivers a wide range of systems for dynamic positioning and navigation, marine automation, safety management, cargo handling, subsea survey and construction, maritime simulation and training, and satellite positioning. Its solutions enhance efficiency and safety throughout the whole maritime technology spectrum.

As a part of the event schedule, a wide range of underwater mapping & imaging systems will be showcased to clients within the region. Some of these include the Kongsberg GeoAcoustics Geoswath Compact Bathymetry System, Pulsar Side Scan Sonar System, the Kongsberg range of underwater cameras and sub-bottom profilers, µPAP, among many others. A host of interactive presentations by underwater survey specialists will also be conducted on topics ranging from hydroacoustics, geoacoustics, multibeams, sub-bottom profilers, HPR and µPAP to underwater cameras. However, the major highlight of the seminar is a live boat demo on the latest EM2040C Compact wideband multibeam echosounder at Bayanat jetty.

On this occasion, Ian Huggins, General Manager @ Unique System FZE commented, “The survey equipment rental division @ Unique Group is elated to be organizing the Underwater Technology User Seminar 2015 for survey clients in the Middle East. The event is a great platform for survey professionals to be introduced to the latest advancements in underwater imaging and mapping products and technologies such as the single beam and multi beam echosounders, side scan sonars, swath bathymetry systems, underwater cameras and other hydrographic surveying tools. Unique is proud to be associated with Bayanat, Kongsberg Maritime and CARIS for the event.”

Geir Skogen, Sales Manager @ Kongsberg Maritime added, “We are pleased to launch the EM2040C Compact multibeam echosounder in the Middle East through the Underwater Technology User Seminar platform. EM 2040 is the world's only true wideband high resolution Multibeam Echosounder system that is designed to meet requirements for hydrographic and inspection surveys and provides exceptional resolution and performance, including the ability to fulfill required along track coverage at twice the survey speed.”

The Kongsberg EM 2040C is a shallow water multibeam echosounder based on the EM 2040 technology, an ideal tool for any high resolution mapping and inspection applications. The receiver and transmitter are integrated in a common sonar head. The system fulfills and even surpasses the IHO-S44 special order and the more stringent LINZ specification. The operating frequency range is from 200 to 400 KHz with frequency selection in steps of 10 KHz, enabling the user to choose on the fly the best operating frequency for the application. A highly advanced multibeam echosounder that it is, the EM2040 C features can be summarized as follows:

·         High resolution with a wide frequency range

·         Short pulse lengths and large bandwidth

·         Extended range due to Frequency Modulated (FM) chirp

·         Complete roll and pitch stabilization

·         Nearfield focusing both on transmit and receive

·         Water column data (standard)

·         Seabed image (standard)

·         Sonar head is depth rated to 50 m

·         Easy to install, convenient for small boats

·         Single and Dual Head models

·         Dual swath (multiple pings)

The post processing of the multibeam echosounder data will be presented using the CARIS HIPS and SIPS software. For over 30 years, CARIS has been leading the way in the development of marine GIS software. CARIS offers effective solutions from the processing of the sonar ping to the creation and distribution of charts and data. The HIPS and SIPS software is a comprehensive bathymetric, seafloor imagery and water column data processing software that enables the simultaneous processing of multibeam, backscatter, side scan sonar, LiDAR and single beam data. Supporting over 40 industry standard sonar data formats, HIPS and SIPS can easily integrate into any workflow.

“Bayanat is pleased to work with Unique and Kongsberg in delivering this event. As a regional geospatial services leader, we are keen to collaborate with industry leaders in the geospatial and hydrographic survey domain to better serve our customers in the UAE and beyond. We look forward to further enhancing this fruitful partnership with Unique in the future as well.” said Dr. Adel Al Shamsi, Chief Operating Officer @ Bayanat for Mapping & Surveying Services.