F.A.Q.

AESI supports hydrographic, geospatial, infrastructure, environmental, construction, industrial, and resource-sector projects across a wide range of site conditions.

Our services can support a wide range of clients including federal, provincial, and municipal governments, First Nations and Indigenous organizations, engineering and environmental consultants, contractors, utilities, resource and industrial operators, and other private-sector organizations.

You can start with the question your project needs to answer. Tell us what you need to understand, where the work is located and how you intend to use the results. That gives the discussion a practical starting point, even if the survey method has not been selected.

Early discussions can help identify gaps in existing information before fieldwork or design decisions are committed. Bring the project area, available records and any access or scheduling constraints so the survey scope can be discussed alongside the wider project.

Water depths and submerged terrain in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and channels.

Single-beam sonar measures depth directly beneath the survey vessel along individual survey lines. Multibeam sonar captures a much wider area of the bottom, providing greater coverage and detail. The appropriate method depends on the project scope, site conditions, and required level of detail.

Water depth, bottom conditions, vessel access, positioning and the selected sonar system all influence what can be measured. Define the features you need to resolve at the outset: a general view of the bottom and a detailed investigation of a small structure may call for different approaches.

Consider what may have changed since the survey was collected, including dredging, sediment movement, construction or a significant flow event. Its age is only part of the picture. The original coverage, reference system and level of detail also need to suit the decision being made today.

Before, during and after dredging to document conditions, track progress and verify completed depths.

A pre-dredge surface provides a measured starting point. Comparing it with a design surface can support an estimate of material to remove; comparison with a post-dredge surface can help quantify measured change. The survey limits, reference levels and calculation method should be agreed for the project.

The surveys describe conditions at different times. Dredging, subsequent sediment movement and differences in coverage or processing can affect the comparison. A consistent reference system and clearly documented survey methods help the project team interpret what the measured change represents.

YES — Our capabilities span both environments and include hydrographic surveying, LiDAR, UAV photogrammetry, laser scanning, mobile mapping, ROV inspection, and other geospatial technologies.

Yes. Combining technologies can provide a more complete understanding of a site. Sonar, LiDAR, UAV imagery, laser scanning, and other survey methods can be integrated to capture both submerged and above-water features within a coordinated dataset.

A project does not always stop at the waterline. Coordinated above-water and underwater information can help teams understand how banks, structures and submerged terrain relate to one another, rather than working from separate views of the same site.

The datasets need compatible horizontal and vertical references, with sufficient control and overlap to check their relationship. Existing files should be reviewed for coordinate systems, units and collection dates before assuming that they can be combined directly.

Yes, including bridge pilings, dam components, intakes and foundations.

ROVs, side scan sonar and imaging sonar support underwater inspection and documentation.

Mapping the bed around piers can document depressions, exposed features and changes in surrounding terrain. Repeat surveys can support comparison over time. The survey information should be interpreted within the broader engineering assessment of the structure and its site conditions.

Sonar can provide information where murky water limits camera visibility. ROV imagery can add visual context where lighting, visibility and access allow it. The methods answer different questions; small defects or material condition may need closer inspection beyond what an acoustic image can show.

Sub-bottom profiling investigates underlying layers; core sampling recovers physical sediment.

Sub-bottom profiling uses acoustic reflections to investigate layering below the bed. Sampling recovers physical material for examination or testing. One provides an interpreted view along survey lines; the other provides material from specific locations. Together, they can help connect observed layers with actual sediment.

The result depends on the sediment, acoustic conditions and equipment used. Some layers may be clearer than others, and penetration varies. Treat the profiles as interpreted evidence; targeted sampling or other investigation may be needed to answer questions that the acoustic data cannot resolve.

We consider project objectives, site conditions, water depth, accessibility, required accuracy, coverage, and final deliverables to determine the most appropriate technology or combination of technologies.

Yes, where suitable. Existing survey data, CAD files, GIS information, imagery, previous surfaces, and other project records can often be incorporated to support comparison, planning, monitoring, or continued project development.

To start the conversation, share your project location, the question you need answered and any available drawings or previous survey information. Outline your intended use of the results so the discussion can focus on what your team needs.

Share the survey boundary, launch or access points, known obstructions and available site drawings. Include site contacts, operating hours and any coordination requirements. If parts of the site are difficult to reach, flag them early so access can be considered when defining the fieldwork.

These conditions can affect access, vessel operation and the ability to collect useful data. Water-level information also matters when relating measured depths to a project reference. Discuss seasonal conditions and operational constraints early so the field plan reflects the site.

Start with how your team will use the information: design, comparison, inspection, quantities or a site record. Then discuss the appropriate drawings, surfaces, point clouds, imagery or reporting, together with file formats and coordinate references. Agreeing those requirements early helps avoid receiving data that your workflow cannot readily use.