Business Central September 2021

| 65 Integrated geo-data solutions with Fugro Fugro New Zealand Limited (Fugro) has evolved into the leading provider of integrated geotechnical, geophysical and subsea solutions. With roots reaching back ive decades, Fugro provides geoconsulting, positioning, and mapping solutions tailored to government and private sector client requirements across New Zealand. "We are geo-data specialists," says New Zealand Country Manager Alex Waugh. "We collect and analyse comprehensive information about the earth and the structures built upon it. We then help our clients understand how their assets interact with the earth and how they can operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and e icient manner." A leader in technology, in 2018 Fugro introduced micro sized subsea positioning (undersea mapping) equipment into New Zealand, reducing the size of vessels required and helped clients achieve their sustainability goals. Mainly engaged in the energy sector, focusing on marine, Fugro provides underwater inspections, repair and maintenance work, environmental studies, and ports bathymetric charting. Fugro also assists companies with infrastructure upgrades. Fugro's work with oil and gas operator OMV includes subsea asset inspection, repair and maintenance using remotely operated vehicles, underwater positioning systems, diving operations and cathodic ield mapping. "Typically, during the summer months, we will bring a 100 metre plus vessel to New Zealand to assist with OMV's inspection and maintenance work," says Alex. "We deploy the latest sound and light mapping technology to create digital twins of pipelines and structures underwater.” Fugro also provides landside support to power utilities and this year has completed four campaigns in the central North Island, including developing a complete 3 D map of the entire power grid using aircraft and helicopters and the latest laser scanning technology. “We’ve also done extremely high resolution pole top photography for the condition assessment of every single distribution pole that a utility might have in their region.” Landside projects also include work in hydro-electric dams and aquaculture. In recent times Fugro has been contracted by a number of companies to undertake desktop studies looking at o shore wind farms' viability. Based in NewPlymouth, Fugro operates fromCape to Blu and further a ield to the Paci ic Islands and the South Pole. Fugro has a team of ten specialist surveyors, all holding skippers tickets so they can drive boats. “Essentially, everyone with a suit in the o ice has a well-worn set of overalls that are put on at least once a week.” As part of the international Fugro Group, Fugro New Zealand Limited’s local resources and experience is backed by global expertise and technology. “We have a team of sixty engineers supporting us out of Australia and thousands of people globally,” explains Alex. “Our remote operations centres enable personnel to work remotely on our vessels, eliminating the need to travel o shore. Reduced travel reduces the stress associated with extended sea trips for our team as they can sit in a comfortable o ice and go home at the end of a shift. The technology we have is so fast that it seems as though you’re talking to someone next door, not thousands of kilometres away.” Alex points out that the New Zealand market's size means there is no job too small or so big that he and his team won’t look at it. “We help our clients through all life cycle stages. Projects are all packaged up to be delivered on time, to spec and on budget.”