HKND Awards Contract for Survey for Nicaraguan Canal
HKND Group, concessionaire of the Nicaragua Interoceanic Grand Canal project, signed an agreement with international geological and resource consultancy CSA Global of Australia in the headquarters of HKND Group in Hong Kong, entrusting CSA Global to conduct an aerial geological survey of the canal route and Lake Nicaragua shore line.
The survey comprises of Aerial mapping of topography, photography and geophysical and geological data. HKND Group concluded an open tender works package award with CSA Global for the services.
“The survey is a major step in the construction development process and supports pre-works planning, design and engineering for the canal and infrastructure”, stated senior advisor of HKND Group, John Murray.
The project uses the advanced Precise Point Positioning (PPP) technology to carry out the survey. In theory, the PPP technology only requires one control point on ground to meet the precise positioning requirement of aerial survey, with a particular advantage in remote and dense forest areas. The airborne laser radar is capable to penetrate the dense forests and detect clearly the actual topography and surface water.
When it is applied to the section of Lake Nicaragua, the lakebed topography of 8 to 10 meters below surface can be displayed with detail. This aerial geophysical prospecting technology can also detect materials of 150 to 200 meters below ground level, including their hardness and 3D distributions. Underground water of 150 to 200 meters deep can be detected by this high technology as well.
The survey will cover a 10km-wide area along the 276km proposed canal route alignment connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific and the 2km-wide circumference of Lake Nicaragua. The airborne remote sensing data acquisition methods that will be applied are LiDAR airborne laser radar (land and near shore bathymetry), high resolution digital photography and airborne geophysics, with a planned commencement in September 2015 and completion by March 2016.
Remote sensing data will be acquired by fixed wing aircraft flying grid patterns over the defined route. The data acquired will be formatted, processed and interpreted by experts to produce high resolution mapping for 3D topography, 1:2,000 contours, 3D geology, surface vegetation and 3D imagery.
The output will produce layered maps covering surface and sub-surface. The maps are a key element applied in detailed construction planning and design. They also support minimizing the impact of activities on immediate and surrounding environments from the design stage, underpinning HKND´s commitment to the long term sustainability and well-being of the land.
CSA Global is a leading geological, resource and management consulting company with a broad international foot print. Upon award of the survey works, CSA Managing Director Jeff Elliott stated, “CSA Global is very excited to be working with HKND on this prestigious project and we look forward to delivering the survey works and contributing to the progress of the Nicaragua Interoceanic Canal”.
