09121-3300-06

Primary Performer
3D at Depth LLC

Additional Participants
UTEC Survey Inc.
CDL Inc.

Abstract
3D at Depth LLC, the prime contractor for this project, has developed an underwater medium range laser imaging solution to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 capability. This project includes a consortium of companies that includes 3D at Depth, CDL Inc., and UTEC Survey.

The primary objective of this project is to radically improve the accuracy and efficiency of the inspection, maintenance, and repair of ultra deepwater assets. Specifically, the project will raise the TRL of 3D at Depth’s underwater 3D laser scanner (the LaserFish) from 2 to 5/6. The objective of the consortium is to eventually utilize the technology to dramatically improve the processes and methodologies used in underwater survey and metrology just as laser scanning has done for terrestrial inspection, maintenance, repair, and construction projects.

3D at Depth has already demonstrated the ability to acquire real time 3D data of underwater structures to accuracies less than 1 cm at distances greater than 8 meters. The PI for this project, Mr. Carl Embry, was also the PI for developing 3D at Depth’s technology to date.

The proven physics based models already developed will be used to design the current lab sensor into an underwater housing, balance between different sensor architectures, and design for relia-bility and manufacturability. This design will be built, accelerated life tested, and tested in a lake environment (TRL 4 advancement). Any lessons learned from this stage will be rolled into a design upgrade. Additional accelerated life tests will be performed on the upgraded sensor, it will be integrated with an ROV, and then tested in a ROV test tank (TRL5).

The key deliverables will include the published results of the lake and integrated ROV demonstrations of the working full-scale prototype. Additional Optional Tasks can be funded to perform an open water demo on an actual project of opportunity (TRL 6).

The speed and precision of the technology developed by this proposed project will for the first time allow operators to acquire accurate as-built 3 Dimensional models of deepwater assets. This major breakthrough in underwater data collection:

• Reduces operating costs for underwater inspection, maintenance, and repair
• Reduces environmental risk through more accurate inspection and faster response
• Significantly improves construction practices and quality / reliability
• Greatly reduces risks to high value assets
• Allows infrastructure owners/operators to rapidly respond to problems
• Provides rapid access to sharable accurate as-built data before, during and after con-struction

Principal Investigator: Carl Embry

Additional Information

Phase 1 Final Report [PDF-4.56MB]