CRA Canada Surveys
About our company
CRA Canada Surveys Inc. has been a leading provider of hydrographic survey services for the past two decades, catering to Engineering consulting firms, Port Authorities, Government Agencies, and Marine contractors. Based in the Fraser Valley, our strategic location enables us to efficiently serve Vancouver and its surrounding areas while also undertaking projects globally.
Led by Alex Howden, a seasoned professional with 24 years of expertise in Hydrographic mapping and Geophysical and Oceanographic investigations, we bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to every project. Alex, educated at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Geomatics, is also a proud member of ASTTBC, bringing a commitment to quality and precision to every endeavor.
Our core focus lies in conducting both single and multi-beam sonar surveys. Presently, we operate two single-beam sonar acquisition systems and two fully functional Reson Seabat multi-beam sonar systems, ensuring comprehensive coverage and accuracy in our data collection.
In addition to sonar surveys, we offer a range of complementary services including Side Scan, Sub Bottom, Magnetometer, and ADCP water velocity marine investigation surveys. These capabilities allow us to provide holistic insights into marine environments, supporting various project needs, from dredging operations to environmental assessments.
At CRA Canada Surveys Inc., we are dedicated to delivering reliable, high-quality survey solutions tailored to meet the unique requirements of each client and project.
Single-beam Sonar Surveys
Single beam Surveys
Bathymetric data gathered utilizing a single-beam hydrographic acquisition system, with data acquisition managed by Hypack Max software. This software conducts real-time calculations of the vessel's position, providing the helmsman with guidance relative to pre-programmed survey lines. Depth data and horizontal positions are time-stamped for accurate correlation, then stored onto the computer's hard drive. During this process, water level corrections are applied to the dataset, resulting in the creation of a final XYZ dataset.
Multi-beam Sonar Surveys
Multi-beam surveys
Utilizing cutting-edge systems like the Teledyne Seabat T20P sonar, a multi-beam system delivers vastly superior resolution compared to single beam echo sounders. Consisting of a single transducer multi-beam array capable of tracking up to 1040 individual beams, it ensures high precision data collection. Integrated with motion sensors, a heading sensor, RTK GPS positioning system, and velocimeter, this setup provides accurate depth measurements across a wide 160-degree swath.
The swath system enables data collection in various environments, including open water and along structure faces, with the swath looking either 'in' or under the structures. This comprehensive dataset undergoes reduction for heave, pitch, and roll, ensuring data accuracy. Utilizing Hypack Max software for data acquisition and processing, we leverage its robust editing and filtering capabilities to remove artifacts such as dock pilings from the dataset. This meticulous editing ensures the production of a clean dataset accurately representing seabed conditions, including areas under docks.
Other services
Barge Positioning and Machine control for dredging equipment
Barge positioning and machine control for dredging utilizes survey instruments to guide dredging equipment on barges. GPS helps pinpoint the barge's location, while machine control systems automate dredging machinery like excavators, making operations more precise and efficient.
River Hydrology Surveys
Bathymetry and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling(ADCP)
CRA employs Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) equipment to measure current velocities and total volume at specific transect locations. This data is pivotal for constructing hydraulic river models, crucial for project design and floodplain analysis purposes.
Seismic surveys Sub-bottom Profiling
Seismic surveys, especially sub-bottom profiling, are ways to study what lies beneath the ocean floor. By sending sound waves into the seabed and recording how they bounce back, images can be created showing the layers of sediment and rock below. This helps in understanding the seabed's structure, finding resources, and assessing any risks for activities like drilling or construction.
Bathymetry surveys using Remotely operated hydrographic survey vessels (ROHSV)
Primarily used in areas where larger vessels are not feasible or where safety concerns necessitate an unmanned survey vessel option, such as dam tail races, intake areas, and settling ponds suspected to contain contaminants
Side-scan Sonar Surveys
Side-scan sonar surveys are used to create detailed images of the seafloor and underwater objects. This technology works by emitting sound waves from a towed device that sweep sideways across the seabed. The waves bounce off objects and the seafloor, returning signals are recorded and used to generate a visual map, revealing features such as wrecks, geological formations, or marine life habitats. The image shown above is a concrete bridge pier.
Conventional surveys
Using precise measurement tools like total stations or GPS to gather data on land features and boundaries, typically for construction, engineering, or mapping purposes. Topographic surveys specifically focus on mapping the elevation and contours of the land surface, providing valuable information for design, planning, and assessing terrain suitability for various projects. The image above shows a pipeline corridor survey.
Contact Us
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CRA Canada Surveys Inc.
#35-32929 Mission Way, Mission, BC
8-8758 Holding Road, Chase, BC
Alex Howden: ahowden@uniserve.com 604-845-0174