Frans Nijsen, QPS

1. Future of hydrographic software
Frans Nijsen
Marketing & Sales

2. • QPS, part of Saab
• Managing future data volumes
• New visualization and User Experience techniques
• Short term developments

3. QPS BV
• Founded 1986
• 1997 – Launch of QINSy
• 2001 – Became part of HITT
• 2002 – Launch of Qastor
• 2006 – Launch of Qarto
• 2011 – IVS3D becomes part of QPS
• 2012 – HITT becomes part of Saab
• 2015 – Launch of Qimera

4. QPS, part of Saab

5. Market and Customer focus
PRUDUCTS&SYSTEMS
NAVALCIVIL SECURITY AIR LANDCOMMERCIAL AERONAUTICS
SERVICES
SOLUTIONS
Customer Support and Services
Civil security
systems
Training and
Simulation
Support
weapons
&
Light weight
Missiles
Heavy
Missiles
Radar and
EW-systems
Underwater
SystemsSignature
management
Aeronautical
Platforms
C4ISR
systems
Aeronautical
Sub-systems

6. Maritime Traffic Management
VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES
PORT MANAGEMENT
HYDROGRAPHICS
AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
PRECISION NAVIGATION
• AIS transponder systems
• AIS base stations and
networks
• Navigation systems
R5, R4, R40

7. Maritime Traffic Management
HYDROGRAPHICS
PRECISION NAVIGATION
• Coastal surveillance
• Maritime domain
awarenenss
• Platform protection
VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES
CoastWatch VTMIS, V3000
AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
PORT MANAGEMENT

8. Maritime Traffic Management
HYDROGRAPHICS
• Port services
• Vessel and birth planning
• Billing and reporting
VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES
Kleinport
PORT MANAGEMENT
AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
PRECISION NAVIGATION

9. Maritime Traffic Management
PORT MANAGEMENT
• Hydrographic data
acquisition
VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES
QINSy, Qimera, Fledermaus
HYDROGRAPHICS
• Processing
AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
PRECISION NAVIGATION
• Visualisation & analysis

10. Maritime Traffic Management
PORT MANAGEMENT
PRECISION NAVIGATION
VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES
Qastor and ADX- ADQ1
AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
HYDROGRAPHICS

11. Managing future data volumes
• 10 yrs. ago MBES produced 256 points per ping.
• Current data rate is 1600 points per ping.
• Future will be more, but also multi frequency.
• Not only MBES data, also Laser (above & under
water).
• 5 yrs. ago, QINSy could handle 750.000 points per
sec.
• Currently we can handle over 4.000.000 points per
sec.

12. Managing future data volumes

13. Managing future data volumes
• Traditionally we are storing all the data locally on the vessel. Will
we still be doing this in 5yrs time?
• Shouldn’t we be connecting the sensors to the internet and use
the internet to live stream the hydrographic raw data?
• Use Cloud computing to acquire and process data.
• Surveys around the world will be monitored in a mission control
center.
Data courtesy – CCOM & NOAA

14. Managing future data volumes
• Record all data records, all the time.
• Bathy
• Multispectral backscatter (100, 200, 400 kHz)
• Water Column Imaging (WCI)
• Instead of processing everything
afterwards we will need to do more real
time processing, in order to speed up the
workflow.
• This means auto filtering of bathy data,
generate real time multispectral imaging
and real time WCI data extraction.
R = 100 kHz
G = 200 kHz
B = 400 kHz

15. Managing future data volumes
• Automatic filtering of the bathy data must become so
intelligent (self learning) that we can fully rely on this.
• With SSS, SAS or Backscatter imaging we need to be able to
do real time target detection, but also target recognition.
• Water Column Imaging must become so smart that it
automatically extracts objects and recognizes them. Is this a
wreck, seeps, a school of fish or a mine like object?
• Data will automatically become available in GIS.
• The onshore surveyor becomes responsible for data quality
and interpretation instead of data collection.

16. Managing future data volumes
• New AUV and ASV systems will probably operate in
a fleet and will stay on or in the water for a longer
period as we are now used to.
• ASV’s can make use of solar power and satellite
communication. AUV’s can dock to a submerged
AUV garage to power up, upload the recorded data,
and download the new mission.
• We will see an increase of AUV and ASV systems
worldwide. This will result in the need for more
robotic and monitoring software.

17. Managing future data volumes
Example:
Large parts of the North Sea will be covered with
offshore windfarms. Instead of using a manned
surface survey vessel, we can install submerged AUV
garages in each wind farm.
Use the AUV for scour protection monitoring.

18. Managing future data volumes
• Should we be afraid of these data volumes?
• No, we have always been able to cope with the
increase of data in the past.
• New hardware and software techniques will make
it possible to cope with the future data volumes.
• The multibeam will become a mainstream survey
system, everybody will be able to operate it. This
will result in even more data.

19. Visualization and User Experience
Additional Challenges and Opportunities:
Volume increases beyond just sensor growth:
• Growth in repeated surveys is a further multiplier (driven by
growth autonomous & automated platforms)
• Analysis grows further in both spatial and temporal
As time, and dynamic character become factors in high-resolution
data, important changes are more likely to occur over shorter
periods of time.
• Efficient time structures and 4D visualization tools are therefore
important, especially to find important differences
• Change management (of data) is becomes even more critical

20. Visualization and User Experience
Siltation monitoring
4D visualization: monthly surveys combined with dredge model and raster chart
Data courtesy – Groningen Seaports & PDOK

21. Visualization and User Experience
Engineering modeling: subsea assets
Point cloud combined with grid
Data courtesy – Bibby Hydromap

22. Visualization and User Experience
• Increase of data and data types also requires rethinking of data
presentation.
• Combinations of grids, point clouds and 3D mesh shape.
• 4D presentation.
• Questions we need to look at in 10yrs time:
• Will the computer mouse still exist, or will every thing be operated by
touch screen, voice control or eye / hand gestures.
• Will computer screens still exist, and are we going to rely on hologram
techniques that can be manipulated with your hands as in the movies?
Data courtesy – Port of Rotterdam & PDOK

23. Visualization and User Experience
• Augmented reality is starting to become more
important.
• Kids are already using it!!! (and some adults)

24. Visualization and User Experience
• Automation (deep learning) will be important for
both intelligent filtering, but also intelligent
“presentation” of data.
• Processing power will continue to grow (Cloud,
Multi-CPU, GPU) but taking advantage of it will
require:
• Intelligent programming for multi-processors
• Very fast I/O systems

25. Conclusion
QPS anticipates on trends in the survey industry
regarding new demands and markets.
QPS works together with hardware manufacturers
and users regarding new survey system and workflow
optimization.
Together with SAAB, QPS is constantly involved in
various R&D projects that will benefit the user.

26. Short term developments
• QPS product suite
• Focus of products will change a little bit
• Sub Bottom Profiling
• ADCP
• Feedback Voting

27. QPS Product Suite - Workflow
• Old Multibeam Workflow
QINSy
Processing
Manager
Qloud Fledermaus
QPD QPD Grid
Qloud End of Life announced

28. • Current Multibeam Workflow
QPS Product Suite - Workflow
QINSy Qimera
Processing
Manager
Fledermaus
GIS
Db’s
QPD
GridGrid GridGrids
Bathy processing functionality are moved towards Qimera.
Processing Manager will change focus towards working with grids.

29. Sub bottom integration
Drivers: Innomar SES2000
EdgeTech
Kongsberg EA440 (coming shortly)

30. ADCP
Dedicated ADCP display is under development
Drivers: Teledyne RDI Workhorse

31. Feedback Voting

32. Thank you.
Questions?