Infrastructure inspection

Supporting strength

Society needs infrastructure that stands strong, whatever the conditions. However, long-term exposure to the forces of water can undermine that strength, with pressure, environmental conditions, currents, and vessel operations taking a toll. This makes efficient, effective and thorough inspections and monitoring critically important.

Kongsberg Discovery has it covered.

The advantages of innovation

Bridges are vulnerable to erosion; ports are damaged from tides, storms and docking activities; offshore structures endure tough environments; and harbours require dredging for evolving vessel and operational needs. 

The list of infrastructure and challenges is diverse, but the requirement for high quality inspection and monitoring data is universal. Engineers need ‘eyes under the water’ that excel in the constant quest to assess integrity and protect physical assets.

This is where Kongsberg Discovery leads the way. 

Our sophisticated underwater acoustic technology generates high-resolution images of marine infrastructure, with advanced software sensors correcting for factors such as water pressure, temperature and salinity. The result is crystal clear, accurate sonar images. 

In addition, Kongsberg Discovery continually innovates in sensor technology, sonar deployment, unmanned and autonomous vehicles, and image processing software to optimise efficiency, reach and resolution. 

This turns engineering challenges into competitive advantage, with faster, safer and more cost-effective surveys and inspections, defined by quality.

To ensure the integrity and longevity of infrastructure above and below the waterlines, civil engineers are increasingly utilising digital twin technology.

This requires specialised knowledge and competency, correctly synchronising 3D images above the waterline (LIDAR or high-resolution geo-referenced data) with 2D and 3D sonar data below the waterline.

Scouring and siltation can occur slowly or, exacerbated by tidal flow and environmental conditions (such as heavy rain or droughts), extremely quickly. 

Scour poses severe risk to infrastructure, with the danger of catastrophic failure of bridge piers and port structures. Larger vessels, with more powerful propulsion systems, aggravate this issue, while also depositing material in critical navigation channels.

Scheduled, proactive and high-quality monitoring is essential.

High resolution structural inspection imaging

Incidents such as hard dockings, collisions and harsh weather can damage structures such as vessel berths, bridge piers and mooring systems, necessitating immediate closure for safety inspections. 

Time and quality is of the essence in such tasks, with complete safety a prerequisite for resuming operations as quickly as possible.

However, divers often struggle to conduct inspections, exposing themselves to risk, disrupting planned operations and facing low – or sometimes zero – visibility conditions.

We offer comprehensive after-sales assistance