Technical Consultancy Survey Support For NRW

Overview

Company: Natural Resources Wales

Project Location: Irish Sea, off of the Llyn Peninsula

Project Description: Technical consultancy support in planning survey over two areas of Horse Mussel bed; overseeing design, construction and installation of a custom survey pole; multibeam bathymetry and backscatter survey; data processing and reporting

Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau (PLAS) Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Location: North coast of the Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales

Size: 31km2

”The survey helped determine the current extent of the reefs. Additionally, a time series analysis was performed to assess bathymetric changes over time, identifying areas of reef loss and the rate of decline by comparing with past MBES data. This provided crucial data on the condition of this biogenic reef, which is threatened and/or declining across its range and is protected under various national and international regulations.

Hydrofix also designed a mounting system for MBES equipment on NRW's survey vessel, enabling NRW to undertake the survey in-house with our own vessel, reducing costs. By utilising Hydrofix’s expertise and equipment, the project was delivered on time and within budget. This setup will enable NRW to efficiently carry out essential monitoring work like this in the future.”

Harriet LincolnMarine Environmental Assessment Officer, Natural Resources Wales

Project Scope:

  • Technical assessment of options available to NRW to assess the reef extents using MBES bathymetry and backscatter data over two separate areas including options to upgrade and use NRW in-house resource
  • Phase 2: Design, fabrication and fitting of a custom over-the-side pole for an NRW vessel
  • Phase 3: High resolution seabed mapping of required areas including data acquisition, processing, and reporting to assess the spatial extent of Horse Mussel (Modiolus modiolus) reefs and evaluate changes over time.

Responsibilities and Services Encompassed:

  • Developed a pre-survey line plan and estimated the acquisition time required
  • Advised on market rates for various acquisition solutions and formulated survey budgets
  • Assessed the feasibility of fabricating and installing an over-the-side pole for the NRW survey vessel
  • Conducted a site visit to evaluate installation options for the survey pole
  • Produced design drawings and liaised with fabricators to construct and install the pole
  • Supervised sea trials following the installation of the pole
  • Supplied surveyors and survey equipment to complete the high resolution seabed survey
  • Data processing and interpretation
  • Reprocessing and time series analysis of multiple legacy datasets
  • Produced a report that has been publicly published

Project Benefit:

Hydrofix provided technical consultancy that enabled NRW to conduct the Horse Mussel bed survey with their own boat. We delivered survey methodology, equipment specifications, and implementation guidance while NRW performed the physical survey work with our supplied surveyors.

The development of a custom mounting solution for NRW’s vessel not only will facilitates further MBES surveys, but also enables fitting of NRW’s own USBL transducer for SSS and Diver surveys. The project also saw Hydrofix creating technical specifications and providing survey planning support.

This project demonstrates Hydrofix’s ability to design survey solutions that integrate into our client’s needs throughout the full life cycle of a survey campaign, supporting not only immediate monitoring needs and long-term environmental assessment programs, but also empowering client’s to develop their own internal capabilities to best meet their needs in the future.