Fugro has launched a regional elevation survey to aid flood risk assessment and infrastructure planning in south‑central Texas. Backed by the Texas Water Development Board, the assignment spans four river basins, covering roughly 41,381 square kilometres across 34 fast‑growing communities.

After enduring multiple floods in recent years, these communities are revising hazard‑mitigation strategies as part of broader infrastructure planning, with upgrades to drainage networks, transportation corridors, and water service.

Delivery is coordinated by the Texas Geographic Information Office (TxGIO), which maintains consistent, high‑quality geographic information used statewide for planning and public safety. Through its long‑standing StratMap partnership, Fugro is conducting high‑accuracy airborne lidar acquisition to give state and local partners a clear, current view of the terrain. The lidar work typically combines flight planning, calibration, and repeatable collection runs with cloud-based processing steps such as point classification, surface modeling, and quality checks, and it can be integrated with other authoritative geospatial layers to ensure the final elevation products align with local planning needs.

To standardize collection across the project area, the team employs precise satellite positioning to limit new ground control, while Fugro’s cloud processing accelerates turnaround and enhances data quality; derived point clouds are delivered to the state more quickly. Depending on project requirements, Fugro can also complement lidar with photogrammetry, mobile mapping, and uncrewed aerial vehicle surveys, and it can integrate hydrographic surveys to capture river and channel bathymetry so flood models reflect both land elevation and in-channel conditions.

Beyond this regional program, Fugro’s elevation mapping services commonly support topographic mapping, flood risk mapping, corridor and site planning, and engineering-ready terrain deliverables. These services help improve confidence in design and mitigation decisions through survey-grade, high-accuracy elevation surfaces, faster data delivery cycles, and clearer risk visibility for planners and emergency managers. Typical applications include flood modeling, urban growth planning, transportation and utility design, environmental monitoring, and change detection, with geospatial data processed and analyzed into usable outputs such as terrain surfaces, contours, and digital twin-ready 3D context for asset and resilience planning. In coastal and offshore settings, the same elevation and bathymetry capabilities can support ocean climate action work by informing shoreline resilience, habitat restoration planning, and sea-level-rise adaptation.

Current elevation information is essential for communities evaluating flood exposure and reinforcing infrastructure, said Ellen St. Romain, Lidar Program Specialist at TxGIO. The initiative equips planners, engineers, and emergency managers with reliable evidence to guide choices that safeguard residents and assets.

High-accuracy elevation models help translate storm and river behavior into actionable maps, enabling communities to target upgrades where they will reduce risk most.

Articles

Fugro Maps Elevation in Texas River Basins

Ctrack, part of Inseego, has introduced Crystal, its next-generation management suite, to the United Kingdom market as part of a worldwide rollout that followed last year’s acquisition of Inseego’s overseas telematics unit.

Unified Telematics and Artificial Intelligence for Fleet Visibility

The system brings together advanced telematics, artificial intelligence, and forecasting tools in one modular environment for fleet management and asset tracking, helping teams monitor locations and utilization, plan routes more effectively, schedule maintenance to reduce downtime, and improve overall driver and vehicle performance.

Steve Thomas, Managing Director of Ctrack United Kingdom, said Crystal turns raw information into forward-looking guidance, equipping customers to make precise, confident decisions. He noted that the platform provides real-time insight across vehicles, equipment as well as personnel, supporting risk management and compliance through configurable alerts, exception reporting, and audit-ready records that help operators identify issues early and respond consistently.

Bringing telematics and artificial intelligence into a single workflow helps fleets act on exceptions faster, reduce preventable downtime, and standardize safer operating behaviors across the organization.

Modular Functionality: Scale Capabilities Across Industries

Its modular design lets organizations extend capability by adding plug-ins as needs change, while also supporting integrations with third-party business systems through plug-ins and an API. These connections can help align operational data with tools such as dispatch and scheduling systems, maintenance and service platforms, and back-office applications, reducing duplicate entry and streamlining handoffs between teams.

<table><thead><tr><th>Feature</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody><tr><td>Analytics</td><td>Provides real-time monitoring, historical reporting, and predictive analytics, with key performance indicators such as vehicle and asset utilization, mileage, idling time, fuel consumption, harsh driving events, route adherence, and delivery performance. Insights are typically viewed through configurable dashboards and scheduled reports.</td></tr><tr><td>Workflow Automation</td><td>Automates routine steps such as task assignment, escalation, and follow-ups using rules and triggers to reduce manual administration and speed up response times.</td></tr><tr><td>Driver Behavior Monitoring</td><td>Helps reduce risk by tracking driving events and trends, supporting coaching programs and policy enforcement to improve safety and compliance outcomes.</td></tr><tr><td>Operational Planning</td><td>Supports planning and coordination of daily operations, including route and job planning, resource allocation, and utilization planning to improve service levels.</td></tr><tr><td>Electronic Proof-of-Delivery</td><td>Captures delivery confirmation and supporting details to improve visibility, reduce disputes, and simplify back-office reconciliation.</td></tr></tbody></table>

This adaptability fits companies of any size and is designed for use across a range of sectors.

<table><thead><tr><th>Industry</th><th>Use Case</th></tr></thead><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody><tr><td>Fleet Operations</td><td>Vehicle tracking, performance oversight, safety monitoring, and maintenance planning.</td></tr><tr><td>Logistics</td><td>Dispatch visibility, route execution monitoring, delivery verification, and customer service reporting.</td></tr><tr><td>Mining</td><td>Equipment tracking, utilization management, and operational oversight across sites.</td></tr><tr><td>Agriculture</td><td>Asset monitoring, seasonal utilization tracking, and field-operation coordination.</td></tr><tr><td>Construction</td><td>Plant and equipment visibility, job-site utilization tracking, and movement control.</td></tr><tr><td>Public Sector</td><td>Compliance-focused oversight, duty-of-care monitoring, and service delivery reporting.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Driver Communication: Insight, Safety, and Productivity

Crystal will also add a communications app to close the loop between managers and drivers, and Ctrack said this is planned as a dedicated mobile tool within the Crystal ecosystem rather than a feature already available by default to every deployment. The app is expected to support two-way communication, job and task updates, incident and exception reporting, and configurable digital workflows that tie driver activity back to operational and compliance processes.

The multi-purpose tool marks a major step up from Ctrack’s earlier mobile app, with configurable performance, compliance, and operational functions.

Ctrack Crystal Debuts For The United Kingdom Market: Next-generation Fleet And Asset Platform

Last week, Oceanology International 2026 took over ExCeL London, turning the venue into a crossroads for ocean tech, engineering, and marine science as Oi26 energized the show floor with breakthrough ideas, next‑gen hardware, and fast‑paced dealmaking for thousands of participants. Alongside product discovery, the event was built around hands-on conversations—stand-side demos, pre-booked meetings, and informal meetups that helped teams compare approaches, swap lessons learned, and move projects forward.

When ocean technology innovators, operators, and scientists share the same floor, collaboration turns into deployment-ready progress.

Record Milestones for the Global Ocean Community

Across three days (March 10–12, 2026), the gathering exceeded expectations, drawing 8,271 visitors and lifting overall attendance to 15,709—a 14% rise on the prior edition. In the biggest edition of Oceanology International in its 57-year history, half the audience came from outside the UK, while 461 exhibitors from more than 30 nations underlined the show’s position as a worldwide hub for collaboration and invention.

Technology Launches at Oi26 and a Broader Ocean Tech Marketplace

More than 160 companies chose the event to debut solutions, affirming its role as the premier marketplace for unveiling cutting-edge tools and meeting customers, partners, and decision-makers. The launches and discussions spanned autonomy and robotics, subsea sensing and imaging, acoustic positioning and navigation, ocean data platforms, and tools aimed at more efficient offshore operations. Beyond exhibitors, the show drew a mix of oceanographers and marine scientists, engineers and integrators, hydrographic and survey teams, offshore energy and renewables operators, maritime security stakeholders, and procurement and program leaders looking for proven tech and deployable partners. The agenda extended past the stands with live demonstrations, technical sessions, panels, and focused briefings that leaned into practical implementation—how new systems perform in real environments, how data moves from seabed to decision, and what integration, reliability, and operations look like at scale.

<table><thead><tr><th>Exhibitor Name</th><th>Type (Mainstay/First-time)</th><th>Country</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Selected exhibitors (see list above)</td><td>Mainstay and first-time</td><td>Not specified</td></tr></tbody></table>

For those mapping out the wider 2026 calendar, the Ocean Sciences Meeting is scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland. The Our Ocean Conference host location for 2026 has not been confirmed publicly. Oceanology also connects to the broader world of oceanology careers, which commonly include oceanographer and marine scientist roles, marine and subsea engineering, hydrographic surveying, offshore operations and project delivery, marine robotics and autonomy (including field trials and systems integration), acoustics and sonar, ocean data and software (including analytics and visualization), environmental monitoring and impact assessment, and ocean policy, regulation, and program management.

Oceanology International 2026: Connecting The Global Ocean Technology Community

Outsight has begun piloting its Physical AI platform at France’s Bordeaux Airport, initiating a trial across key zones in Hall A.

Physical AI is a form of artificial intelligence designed to understand and operate in real-world, physical environments by turning sensor signals into a continuously updated view of what is happening in a place. Unlike general AI that mainly works with text, images, or historical datasets in isolation, Physical AI is anchored to space and time, emphasizing live perception, measurement, and decision support in a specific physical setting.

In practice, this makes it well-suited to environments where conditions change minute by minute and where decisions depend on what is happening on the ground, not just what is planned on paper.

Improving Passenger Flow and Operations with Automation

This program fits the airport’s ongoing drive for continuous improvement, targeting smoother passenger movement, workflow efficiency, and stronger operational performance.

Serving close to six million travelers each year on 92 routes, Bordeaux Airport puts experience quality and efficiency at its core. With a constrained footprint, the team prioritizes:

More broadly, the significance of Physical AI in airports and similar venues is that it can help teams move from periodic observation to consistent, objective measurement, improving situational awareness and supporting faster operational adjustments.

Real-Time Modeling and Artificial Intelligence in the Terminal

To deepen insight into passenger movement and base decisions on objective data, the airport is testing an AI system, Physical AI, that maps terminal activity live.

Designed by Outsight, the approach builds a live digital twin (Motional Digital Twin) for the terminal, offering continuous 3D visibility of traveler motion in targeted zones such as security screening and other mission-critical areas.

Sensor-derived flows are recorded in a shared spatial model with strict anonymization, enabling:

At a high level, Physical AI systems typically follow a workflow: sensors capture signals from the environment, data is synchronized and cleaned, AI models infer movement and patterns, and the results are delivered as metrics and alerts that operators can use to adapt staffing, lane configurations, and process timing. In some deployments, the output can also feed automated responses, but it can also remain decision-support only, depending on operational needs.

Key components of a Physical AI system commonly include sensing hardware (for example, 3D sensors), time and location alignment, a data pipeline for ingestion and processing, AI and optimization algorithms for inference, and an interface that turns outputs into operational insights. Where automation is required, an additional layer may connect the insights to actuators or control points, such as dynamic signage, access gates, or workflow tooling.

This approach differs from traditional AI that is often optimized for offline prediction or classification on pre-collected datasets, because the goal is reliable, real-time understanding tied to a specific physical context. It also differs from embodied AI, which typically focuses on an autonomous agent (like a robot) learning to act; Physical AI can be deployed without a robot, concentrating instead on measuring and interpreting real-world activity across a space.

Beyond airports, similar systems are used across industries such as retail (store occupancy and dwell time), logistics (dock and yard flow visibility), smart buildings (space management), transportation hubs (crowding management), and public venues (safety and capacity monitoring).

In manufacturing, Physical AI can help optimize line balance, material movement, and workstation utilization by revealing how people and assets move through production areas. In healthcare, it can support operational improvements such as understanding movement patterns across entrances and corridors, reducing congestion around critical departments, and improving space planning while maintaining strong privacy and compliance requirements.

Developing and deploying Physical AI also involves challenges and considerations, including sensor placement and calibration, handling occlusions and complex layouts, ensuring low-latency processing, integrating with existing operational systems, and maintaining reliability as environments change. Operationally, success often depends on clear KPIs, staff adoption, cybersecurity, and a deployment plan that minimizes disruption.

Ethical and social considerations include privacy protections, transparency about what is measured, governance over retention and access, and ensuring systems are not used in ways that enable identification or unfair profiling. There are also workplace implications, such as how monitoring is perceived by staff and how insights are used in performance management versus process improvement.

Future developments in Physical AI are expected to include stronger edge processing, richer multi-sensor fusion, more standardized digital-twin integration, and better scenario simulation so operators can test changes virtually before applying them in live operations. As deployments scale, trends also point toward more robust privacy-preserving analytics and clearer operational governance models.

Physical AI Pilot at Bordeaux Airport: Outsight Deploys in Hall A

Trimble’s 3D machine-control platform broadens what Vermeer’s compact, agile surface miner can do, boosting productivity while helping keep personnel out of harm’s way. Trimble Earthworks is an Android-based machine-control software system; in its 3D configuration, it uses a digital design model and on-machine positioning sensors to provide real-time guidance for grading and cutting tasks. Key benefits include tighter accuracy to the design, fewer rework passes, more consistent results across operators, and improved jobsite efficiency, which can also translate into lower fuel burn by reducing unnecessary movement and idle time.

Remote 3D Option Announced for Vermeer SM55

Trimble introduced a Trimble Ready 3D option for the fully remote-controlled Vermeer SM55 surface miner. With this solution, operators gain sharper accuracy and higher output in demanding civil construction settings, including aggregate sites, limestone extraction, and rocky roadbuilding projects. In practice, crews typically import a 3D surface, alignment, or road model using common civil design formats (for example, LandXML, DXF, and DWG), then select the active design in the machine-control interface before starting work.

Beyond this surface-miner application, Earthworks 3D is used across a range of machine types where compatible hardware packages are available, including excavators, dozers, graders, and compact track loaders, as well as specialized or OEM-supported platforms offered with Trimble Ready 3D configurations.

Earthworks software delivers an easy-to-learn interface on Android, enabling crews of all experience levels to work faster and more consistently across the workflow. On the SM55, autos mode can automatically adjust cutting-head lift and tilt to follow the project model, all while the machine is operated by remote control.

A typical setup-and-run workflow is straightforward: first, create or receive the job design from the office (surface/model and any alignments), then transfer the project files to the Android display or the machine-control system using the organization’s preferred data-transfer method. Next, open Earthworks, choose the correct job, confirm the site and machine settings (such as sensors and calibration), and select the target design surface or linework for the task. Finally, verify position and guidance indicators, start the work mode, and engage automatics as needed so the system can provide live guidance to the operator while production continues.

Earthworks can also connect into broader Trimble workflows by supporting shared job data and coordination with other Trimble field and office tools. Trimble Siteworks machine guidance is a field positioning solution used for site layout, measuring, and as-built verification, helping crews validate work and keep job data consistent between the field and machine-control activities. Earthworks Go! is a companion mobile app that lets supervisors and support staff view key machine and job information from a phone or tablet without taking control of the machine.

Compact Miner, Bigger Capability: Crozier on Autonomy

Scott Crozier, vice president of civil construction at Trimble, noted that the SM55 is smaller, easier to transport, and broadly useful—and that adding the aftermarket 3D option further expands versatility for the platform.

3D designs can be loaded from afar, and the technology then guides travel and actuates the ground-engaging implement to match the plan, with no cab and no onboard operator required.

Trimble Earthworks 3D Powers The Vermeer Sm55 Remote Surface Miner

New alliance will roll out Water real-time normalized difference moisture index surface-moisture mapping—up to 1,000× finer than conventional satellite products—supporting agriculture, infrastructure, and environmental monitoring across the U.S. Pacific Coast and Canada.

The company has entered a strategic agreement with Delmar Aerospace and its Canadian arm, Perspectum Drone Inspection Services, to deliver drone-based moisture intelligence throughout the Western United States and Canada.

Under the collaboration, Delmar and Perspectum will operate the Water payload to provide high-resolution water intelligence for agriculture, infrastructure oversight, and environmental management using the normalized difference moisture index. The index is a spectral ratio designed to estimate vegetation and surface moisture from reflected light, calculated as (near-infrared − shortwave infrared) ÷ (near-infrared + shortwave infrared). In practice, the inputs come from a sensor’s near-infrared band and a shortwave-infrared band (or the closest available equivalent on the payload) captured over the same ground area.

As a moisture-focused metric, the normalized difference moisture index differs from the normalized difference vegetation index, which emphasizes “greenness” and vigor using red and near-infrared reflectance, and from the normalized difference water index, which is commonly used to highlight open water or water-related features using green and near-infrared (or, in some workflows, near-infrared and shortwave infrared). Use the moisture index when the goal is canopy or surface moisture and water stress; use the vegetation index for general crop vigor, stand establishment, and biomass trend checks; and use the water index for identifying open water, inundation, or water boundary changes.

Interpreting moisture-index values is typically done on a relative scale from about −1 . Higher values generally indicate wetter canopies or surfaces (more moisture), mid-range values often reflect moderate moisture or mixed cover, and lower values can indicate dry vegetation, bare soil, or stressed areas—best confirmed by comparing to baseline conditions for the same field, season, and crop stage.

Higher Resolution Than Satellite: End-to-End Services

The initiative pairs the UK-developed and manufactured Water system with Delmar and Perspectum’s on-the-ground operations and North American footprint. As a specialist UAS inspection provider, Perspectum brings proven field experience across energy, infrastructure, and environmental inspection.

Delmar and Perspectum will deploy the drone-mounted system across the region, capturing live surface moisture in real time to generate actionable insights for cropland, critical assets, and sensitive habitats. Typical operations include flight planning over the area of interest, pre-flight checks and sensor calibration, and collection of aligned spectral imagery during the drone mission. The captured bands are processed into georeferenced outputs, the moisture index is computed per pixel, and the results are delivered as map layers and decision-ready visuals that teams can review immediately in the field or route into existing GIS and reporting workflows.

Real-time delivery helps shorten the gap between measurement and action, supporting timely irrigation decisions, earlier detection of developing water stress, and faster triage of emerging issues that can change within hours. Measurement accuracy can be influenced by sensor calibration and stability, atmospheric conditions (haze, variable humidity), illumination and time of day, shadows and view angle, surface cover and mixed pixels (soil, residue, canopy density), wind-driven canopy motion, and the consistency of processing settings used to generate comparable maps across flights.

For drought and water stress detection, teams typically look for consistent downward shifts in moisture-index values compared with a known baseline for the same crop stage or with nearby “healthy” reference zones. For example, a block that trends lower than surrounding areas after a heat event can indicate emerging stress and guide targeted scouting, irrigation adjustments, or leak checks before visible symptoms spread.

Common beneficiaries include water-sensitive and high-value crops where within-field variability matters—such as grapes, berries, leafy vegetables, potatoes, orchard crops (including almonds and apples), corn, and wheat—especially when paired with variable-rate irrigation and rapid follow-up scouting.

Together, the teams will deliver a full workflow—from airborne data capture to analysis and decision-ready reporting—covering a range of operational and environmental use cases.

<table><thead><tr><th>Application Area</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody><tr><td>Precision irrigation</td><td>Use moisture patterns to fine-tune water application by zone and timing.</td></tr><tr><td>Detecting pipeline leaks</td><td>Spot localized wet signatures that may indicate seepage along linear assets.</td></tr><tr><td>Wetland mapping and delineation</td><td>Differentiate wet and dry boundaries to support monitoring and compliance needs.</td></tr><tr><td>Infrastructure inspection</td><td>Identify moisture-related risk areas around built assets for targeted follow-up.</td></tr></tbody></table>

For organizations that need automated access, no public API for moisture-index outputs is described in the announcement; access is typically handled through delivered map products and reporting, with data integration options available by request through the service team.

Quantum Solutions And Delmar Aerospace: Real-time Water Mapping With Water

Around offices, fabrication shops, and active sites, Tekla is reshaping how teams design, make, and assemble structures by pairing automation with fluid collaboration inside a unified construction workflow. In practice, the Tekla software suite is used for structural modeling and detailing, structural engineering and analysis, and fabrication management so teams can coordinate design intent with buildable deliverables.

Data-Driven Software for Constructible Building Information Modeling

Trimble has rolled out the 2026 release of its Tekla software for constructible building information modeling, structural analysis, and steel fabrication management, delivering connected, data-first workflows that bridge design and build. The update accelerates the path from concept to detailing by trimming manual steps and rework, so teams can take on more complex tasks without the friction or data loss that comes from jumping between disconnected applications.

Tekla products are commercial, licensed tools rather than free downloads, and access is typically offered through paid subscriptions or other term-based licensing. Trial or evaluation options may be available through Trimble or local partners, with availability and scope depending on the product and region.

Annual cost is generally set per seat and per product, and it can vary based on modules, required capabilities, and support needs. Instead of a single flat price, many organizations budget for an annual subscription and request a quote that matches their workflows and team size.

For interoperability, Tekla workflows commonly support model and drawing exchange with other design, analysis, and project platforms using standard file formats and configurable integrations, and many teams also rely on an API for automations and data handoffs. Compatibility in day-to-day work usually comes down to which formats your partners require and how you plan to manage versions across disciplines.

Compared with AutoCAD, Tekla is typically chosen when the goal is constructible, model-based coordination and fabrication-ready outputs, while AutoCAD is often favored for general-purpose drafting and broader 2D documentation needs. If your work is centered on detailed structural buildability and downstream fabrication, Tekla can be a better fit; if you mainly need flexible drafting across many drawing types, AutoCAD may be more straightforward.

Unified Portfolio for Construction Coordination

The 2026 lineup drives consistency across projects through a continuous flow of information that removes opaque handoffs between stakeholders. Teams can see live status inside the 3D model, keep project data synchronized with connected workflows, and associate drawings, models, and field inputs across the shop, jobsite, and office, creating an authoritative data set that refreshes instantly.

Common users include structural engineers, detailers, steel and rebar contractors, fabrication shops, precast producers, and general contractors who need dependable coordination between model, drawings, and production outputs.

Projects often include steel-framed commercial buildings, industrial facilities, warehouses, bridges, stadiums, towers, and precast or mixed-material structures where accuracy, sequencing, and change control matter.

On active jobs, the practical upside is clearer coordination and fewer avoidable clashes between stakeholders, along with faster iteration when revisions occur. Teams also tend to benefit from more consistent deliverables across disciplines, tighter alignment between design and fabrication intent, and improved visibility into what is approved, in progress, and ready for the field.

Keeping the structural model aligned with fabrication and site feedback reduces the time spent reconciling conflicting versions and helps teams make decisions with more confidence.

Assistants and Natural-Language Modeling Boost Productivity

Trimble Assistant is now embedded across the Tekla products, guiding new and experienced users to discover features, resolve issues, and stay productive without leaving the interface. In addition, the artificial intelligence-powered Model and Drawing Assistant—an early preview from Trimble Labs—enables context-aware modeling and drawing actions using plain-language prompts, so engineers and detailers can execute tasks faster with simple instructions.

Tekla Structures: Connected Workflows For 2026 Design And Fabrication

Flagship announcements and fresh product debuts sustained heavy attendee traffic and active business across the exhibit halls, with Oi26 at ExCeL London in London outperforming expectations on day two and fueling on‑site demonstrations and partnership discussions as the 2026 edition runs March 10–12, 2026.

Across the show floor and conference program, Oi26 topics span subsea sensing and imaging, marine robotics and autonomous vehicles, ocean data platforms and analytics workflows, offshore and coastal monitoring, and practical hardware aimed at safer, more efficient marine operations. Planned activity formats include product demonstrations, technical talks and panels, workshops, and networking sessions that bring together technology developers, researchers, operators, integrators, and procurement teams.

Innovation in ocean technology moves fastest when engineers, scientists, and operators share real-world data, test results, and operational feedback across the full lifecycle of a system.

Registration is handled through the event’s official registration portal, with attendee and exhibitor inquiries directed to the Oceanology International organizing team via its official contact channels and event support desk.

For those tracking the wider calendar, the Ocean Science Meeting 2026 is being held in Glasgow at the Scottish Event Campus.

Within the broader oceanology landscape, major challenges continue to center on climate-driven change and extreme events, pollution and marine debris, biodiversity loss and overfishing pressures, constraints in underwater communications and power that limit persistent monitoring, funding gaps for long-term observing programs, and the practical hurdles of standardizing, sharing, and governing large, multi-source data sets. Career opportunities across the sector span academic and applied research, marine and subsea engineering, instrumentation and robotics development, hydrography and survey operations, environmental consulting and offshore energy support, data science and software for ocean systems, education and outreach, and policy and regulatory work tied to ocean governance.

Platform Launches and Strategic Moves in Ocean Technology

Taking a prominent spot, OceanSight leveraged the show to present a newly expanded family of brands designed to push marine sensing and subsea intelligence forward—marking a new phase focused on faster innovation, strategic scale, and delivering insight to the ocean tech community and the blue economy. Alongside these platform updates, exhibitors across Oi26 highlighted complementary capabilities such as autonomous surface and underwater vehicles, marine robotics for inspection and intervention, and software layers that turn multi-sensor outputs into operational decision support.

<table><thead><tr><th>Company/Brand</th><th>Technology/Product</th><th>Application/Benefit</th></tr></thead><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody><tr><td>OceanSight</td><td>Expanded multi-brand platform</td><td>Accelerates development and delivery of subsea sensing and intelligence for ocean and coastal operations.</td></tr><tr><td>OceanSight (formed by Xpv Water Partners)</td><td>Subsurface visibility and understanding technologies</td><td>Improves below-surface awareness for researchers and operators working in marine science.</td></tr><tr><td>OceanSight</td><td>Acquisition of Sound Metrics high-resolution imaging sonars</td><td>Supports subsea inspection, monitoring, and security, including shallow-water and coastal deployments.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Sound Metrics adds differentiated capability and a proven record of imaging innovation. Combined with Ocean Floor Geophysics and Neptune Sonar, it equips OceanSight to deliver a more complete portfolio of subsea sensing and imaging solutions that help customers operate and understand complex underwater environments.

High-Performance Ropes for Demanding Marine Operations

Hampidjan Advant, known for premium high-modulus polyethylene and aramid constructions, debuted TechIce at Oi26, drawing interest from operators and equipment manufacturers focused on stronger, safer, and more durable handling solutions in harsh marine conditions.

<table><thead><tr><th>Product</th><th>Material/Technology</th><th>Key Features</th><th>Use Case</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>TechIce</td><td>High-heat-tolerant synthetic winch-rope design</td><td>Maintains strength at very high working temperatures and resists permanent elongation.</td><td>Winching and heavy-duty marine handling where heat and load can compromise conventional fiber lines and steel wire.</td></tr></tbody></table>

TechIce is the first fiber rope engineered to meet the harshest requirements while delivering steel‑like strength, representing a major step forward in safety, and we welcomed the opportunity to discuss it with winch manufacturers attending this year’s show.

Oceanology International 2026: Day Two Momentum at Excel London

Charting critical infrastructure assets like pipeline corridors is demanding, where precision, repeatability, and speed are vital to sound decisions.

Mapping critical facilities supports risk assessment, emergency planning, resource allocation, and resilience improvement by making it easier to see what is exposed, what is interdependent, and what should be prioritized before an incident occurs.

Open-source datasets commonly used to explore critical infrastructure include OpenStreetMap (community-maintained roads, buildings, and points of interest that help establish context and connectivity), Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) (U.S. infrastructure-focused geospatial layers spanning multiple sectors), and the Global Power Plant Database (a global inventory of power plants with attributes such as location and capacity).

HIFLD typically includes sector-based layers such as energy, healthcare, emergency services, transportation, and government facilities. It can be used to build baseline maps of facility locations, screen corridors against nearby sensitive sites, perform proximity and buffer analyses for planning, and support hazard exposure checks when prioritizing inspections or response staging.

Critical infrastructure sector definitions can vary by country. In the United States, the sector approach commonly includes areas such as Energy, Water and Wastewater Systems, Transportation Systems, Communications, Information Technology, and Healthcare and Public Health. In the United Kingdom, critical national infrastructure is often organized into groupings such as energy, communications, transport, water, finance, health, food, and government; both emphasize energy, water, and transport, while the grouping and separation of digital and communications functions may differ.

Mapping Linear Corridors: Proven Field-to-Desk Approaches

Hear from Veronica Fortin, who leads the Geospatial team for Flyscan Systems, as she shares pragmatic ways to deliver dependable results along elongated assets. She will demonstrate approaches that help keep execution efficient within a lean project framework from planning through delivery. Register to attend.

Critical incident mapping combines near-real-time reports, sensor feeds, and authoritative basemaps to build a shared operational picture. When integrated into response workflows, it can improve situational awareness by clarifying what has happened, where it is spreading, what assets and communities are affected, and which routes and resources are most viable for dispatch.

For water risk assessment, mapping typically brings together water infrastructure (intakes, treatment plants, reservoirs, pumps, and distribution networks) with risk zones (floodplains, burn scars, erosion-prone areas, and upstream land-use patterns). Analytics can then support flood risk screening, supply reliability checks (such as single-point-of-failure and outage impact analysis), and contamination investigations by highlighting upstream sources, likely flow paths, and populations at risk.

For IT infrastructure mapping, a practical process is to inventory components (sites, racks, servers, network devices, endpoints, and cloud services), normalize and tag assets by role and owner, and then document dependencies using configuration data, network discovery, traffic observations, and application tracing where available. To keep the map usable, organizations typically treat it as a living system with defined update cycles, controlled access, and security-aware handling of sensitive topology and identity details.

Businesses can identify their most critical assets by combining risk assessment with business impact analysis to pinpoint what systems and locations are essential to safety, continuity, and revenue. Protection strategies commonly include redundancy for high-impact components, physical safeguards for facilities and access points, and cyber controls aligned to the sensitivity and exposure of each asset.

Common strategies for protecting network edge devices include network segmentation, regular patching and firmware management, strong access controls (including least privilege and multifactor authentication where feasible), and continuous monitoring to detect anomalous behavior at the perimeter.

Infrastructure Project Takeaways: Skills You Will Gain

Design acquisition plans tailored to corridor environments that maximize coverage and efficiency.

Apply field-tested methods to map linear networks and other critical infrastructure assets.

Validate elevation accuracy by cross-referencing results with open lidar data sets.

Maintain consistent quality that supports planning and analytic workflows, as well as preparedness.

Mapping Critical Infrastructure: Validating Elevation And Streamlining Corridor Projects

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Golden Software introduced an updated Surfer edition that strengthens subsurface viewing and streamlines everyday workflows for mapping and 3D visualization. Surfer is a paid commercial product, with licensing and pricing that vary by edition and organization needs, and a time-limited trial version is typically available (trial length can vary).

Every user gains faster, cleaner map creation, with pronounced advantages for projects centered on wells, drillholes, and other subsurface datasets.

“With this Surfer release, our priority is helping teams convey 3D subsurface information with greater clarity and speed,” said Surfer Product Manager Kari Dickenson. “Geophysicists, geologists, hydrologists, and environmental specialists can derive better results more quickly from well and borehole data.”

Surfer continues to be a powerhouse for mapping and 3D subsurface visualization, relied upon by 100,000 professionals worldwide. It is commonly used by consultants, in-house exploration and engineering teams, and technical groups at utilities and public agencies for workflows such as cleaning and gridding field measurements, building surfaces, generating contours, and producing presentation-ready figures for reports and stakeholder review.

Recognized for ultra-fast contouring and gridding that often outpaces costlier tools, the software supports robust modeling, advanced analytics, and clear visual communication that stakeholders without technical backgrounds can understand. Key capabilities include rapid gridding and interpolation; flexible map layout and annotation; drillhole and borehole visualization; 3D views for interpretation; and export-ready outputs for technical reporting.

Surfer runs on Windows systems. It supports coordinate systems, map projections, and image georeferencing, and it can be automated through scripting, batch processing, and an API to repeat common map-making steps across many datasets. While Surfer is not positioned as a full geographic information system, it is often used alongside geographic information system tools by exchanging common mapping datasets and coordinating projections and coordinates.

Related technologies and common alternatives depend on the workflow, but teams often compare Surfer to tools such as ArcGIS Pro, MapInfo Pro, Global Mapper, Leapfrog Geo, RockWorks, Oasis montaj, and Petrel.

A practical mapping and visualization tool earns its place when it consistently turns raw measurements into interpretable surfaces and maps without adding friction to the workflow.

What’s New in Surfer: Latest Release Capabilities

Surfer supports 3D surface mapping for subsurface interpretation, and the latest version expands the ways teams can build, review, and share those surfaces.

The latest version introduces the following enhancements:

<table><thead><tr><th>Feature</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody><tr><td>Automated Surface Generation</td><td>Building on 3D drillhole contact points, Surfer now connects contacts to construct 3D surfaces representing lithologic formations, mineralized zones, and similar features. Each surface can be designated as depositional or erosional to capture cross-cutting relationships.</td></tr><tr><td>AutoCAD Drawing Import for Models</td><td>Previously limited to AutoCAD exchange files, Surfer now imports AutoCAD drawing files with full layer information. Each layer can load into its own base layer, letting you selectively bring in content and keep maps and geographic information system workflows organized. In addition to AutoCAD model exchange, Surfer also supports common mapping data exchange through formats such as Esri Shapefile vectors, delimited text tables, and georeferenced imagery.</td></tr><tr><td>Legends for Contours and Drillholes</td><td>Add contour and drillhole layers to project legends to make maps easier to interpret. Contour colors can populate the legend automatically in the title block, and you retain full control over drillhole entries even when no symbology is applied.</td></tr><tr><td>Recordable 3D Views</td><td>Share interactive perspectives with colleagues who do not have Surfer by recording rotations and fly-throughs of 3D scenes. Save the visualization as a video file and send it for review.</td></tr><tr><td>Labels for 3D Points</td><td>In 3D View scatter plots, label individual points with values from the source data file. Beyond category styling by color or size, you can now annotate exact values to highlight subtle differences between points.</td></tr><tr><td>Path-Aligned Images in 3D View</td><td>Import images such as geophysical profiles and align them directly to a polyline or polygon path—no corner coordinates required. The image follows the path precisely, even when it is not straight, dramatically reducing manual placement time.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Surfer by Golden Software: New Mapping And 3D Visualization Release

The platform introduces a standard-precision Gnss solution operating on L1 and L5, boosting position accuracy while cutting power to about 7 mW in typical setups when its Leap low-energy accurate positioning mode is enabled for trackers and wearables. Supported frequency bands include L1 and L5. Leap (Low-Energy Accurate Positioning) is a low-power operating mode that reduces energy use by intelligently managing receiver activity and solution quality so devices can stay accurate while spending less time and power in full tracking.

According to the company, F11 advances meter-class Gnss, pairing ultra-low power with adaptive signal management to serve trackers, wearables, telematics, and mobility uses — from micromobility to drones. It helps manufacturers deliver longer battery life, quicker and more dependable fixes, and greater design flexibility.

F11 debuts a context-aware Gnss design with built-in geofencing and indoor detection that actively balances precision and energy use. It engages dual-band reception (L1 and L5) only when doing so preserves solution quality, reducing consumption while keeping the fix resilient and trustworthy.

Versus earlier designs, it cuts power during signal acquisition by up to 40% and in tracking by as much as 30%, while boosting position accuracy by up to 30% in hard settings such as dense city environments. For long-life trackers — covering assets, livestock, pets, and people — an optimized first fix shortens on-time, enabling multi-year battery life.

Gnss multipath mitigation is the process of reducing positioning errors caused when satellite signals bounce off buildings, terrain, or other surfaces and arrive at the receiver along multiple paths. In the F11 platform, multipath is mitigated through adaptive signal management that monitors measurement quality and down-weights or rejects degraded observations, with L5 helping improve robustness in reflective, interference-prone environments where clean signal tracking is harder.

Scalable Solutions for Industrial and Consumer Applications

u-blox F11 meets rising demand for robust, power-efficient Gnss that integrate easily across industries. The same footprint supports either single-band or dual-band modes, helping product teams streamline designs and scale families across multiple market segments.

Product options are offered as platform variants that let designers choose a single-band or dual-band configuration while keeping a compatible design footprint, and evaluation can be done with kits such as Evk-F10 to bring-up hardware, validate RF performance, and exercise key positioning modes. Design and test resources also include u-center for configuration, monitoring, logging, and playback of receiver data, along with supporting integration documentation, interface specifications, and reference materials that help teams tune performance and power for their target device.

<table><thead><tr><th>Application Area</th><th>Example Use Case</th></tr></thead><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody><tr><td>Tracking</td><td>Fleets and assets</td></tr><tr><td>Wearables</td><td>Consumers and fitness</td></tr><tr><td>Telematics</td><td>Aftermarket solutions</td></tr><tr><td>Agriculture</td><td>Livestock monitoring</td></tr><tr><td>Personal tracking</td><td>People and pets</td></tr><tr><td>Industrial sensing</td><td>Connected devices</td></tr><tr><td>Mobility</td><td>Micromobility and shared mobility services</td></tr><tr><td>Imaging and robotics</td><td>Consumer drones and action cams</td></tr></tbody></table>

For battery-powered products, the key advantage is not just peak accuracy, but consistent, reliable fixes delivered with disciplined power use across real-world signal conditions.

By emphasizing real-world performance over spec-sheet numbers, F11 shortens development cycles, improves user experience, and reduces total system cost for OEMs, with form-factor compatibility and firmware upgradeability helping future-proof designs. Firmware upgrades are supported and can be performed via standard host connections using u-blox tools (for example, through a serial interface in development), while product makers can also package updates for their own over-the-air delivery workflows when the end device supports it. The platform’s Spg 7.0x firmware introduces enhancements such as refined power-management behavior during acquisition and tracking, improved fix stability and reliability in challenging environments, updated signal-quality and interference handling, and general stability improvements and bug fixes.

The platform is on display at Embedded World 2026, with initial products expected by the end of June 2026.

U-blox F11 Platform: Ultra-low Power Meter-level Gnss

Pairing Trimble Roadworks with GSSI delivers pass-by-pass compaction data that helps crews monitor asphalt density as work happens and standardize results across a paving train. Trimble Roadworks is a machine-control platform used on road construction equipment to guide operators during paving and milling, keeping work aligned to the design and providing in-cab feedback that supports consistent production.

Trimble Roadworks Platform Adds Pass-By-Pass Metrics

Trimble said its Trimble Roadworks paving control platform for asphalt compactors now works with GSSI’s PaveScan RS, delivering per-pass compaction metrics. In a typical setup, the PaveScan RS radar and DPS sensors capture dielectric measurements as the roller moves, and Trimble Roadworks presents those readings in the cab as the operator completes each pass. This tight, pass-by-pass loop helps crews spot low-density areas early, adjust rolling patterns immediately, and document compaction progress without waiting for end-of-shift checks. In tandem, Trimble and the SITECH dealer network will serve as a global aftermarket reseller of DPS sensors for density profiling, broadening availability across the sector.

Marrying high-speed ground-penetrating radar with Trimble Roadworks lets paving crews map the dielectric profile—an indicator of air voids—throughout asphalt compaction instead of relying on cores taken after completion. For contractors running mixed fleets, radar-derived subsurface intelligence can also be used alongside the positioning and machine-control workflows found across the industry, including Topcon environments, helping teams keep density insights consistent from pass to pass.

Trimble Roadworks Paving Control typically combines in-cab hardware and connected sensors with on-screen guidance tools. Common components include an operator display, GNSS antennas and receivers, and machine-mounted sensors; the operator interface provides map-based guidance, configurable targets, and clear visual prompts so crews can follow the design, verify coverage, and respond quickly to out-of-tolerance areas as they work.

On connected projects, Trimble WorksManager can be used to move data between office and field systems supporting road construction. A common workflow is to build and review designs in Trimble Business Center (TBC), publish job files through Trimble WorksManager, and then synchronize them to Trimble Siteworks for site layout and to Trimble Earthworks for machine guidance; field updates and as-built data can be sent back through WorksManager for review and reporting in TBC. Exchanged content commonly includes design surfaces and models, alignments and linework, control points, and job files, along with field-captured data such as as-built points, production records, and status updates in supported CAD and machine-control file formats.

Trimble WorksManager can also support coordinated handoffs between Trimble Roadworks and other Trimble solutions by keeping current design data and job revisions aligned across equipment and teams. This reduces manual file handling, helps standardize what each operator is working to, and supports faster issue resolution when design changes or field conditions require updates.

Related Trimble solutions used alongside Trimble Roadworks in road construction include Trimble Roadworks Milling Control for milling guidance, Trimble Earthworks for grade control on earthmoving equipment that supports roadway preparation, Trimble Siteworks for layout and verification, and Trimble Business Center for design preparation and post-processing.

Machine-control technology in road construction can improve accuracy to design, reduce rework, increase production consistency, and strengthen quality documentation by turning key checks into in-process operator feedback rather than end-of-shift corrections.

For more information about Trimble Roadworks or to purchase a system, contact a local SITECH dealer or authorized Trimble dealer network representative for availability, configuration options, and demonstrations.

GSSI PaveScan RS Enables Live Density Mapping

Allowing compactor operators to watch density as they work streamlines rolling. They can validate target density before moving on, rather than finishing the job and drilling cores to check it. — Kevin Garcia, General Manager, Civil Specialty Solutions, Trimble

When compaction results are visible in real time, quality control becomes an on-the-spot decision instead of a delayed discovery.

Project-wide, real-time visibility removes guesswork from roller patterns and cuts the risk of rework or fines for missing compaction specifications. The result is longer-lasting, lower-maintenance asphalt paving and simpler closeout because verification can rely less on coring after compaction is complete.

Trimble Roadworks: Real-time Asphalt Compaction Quality

Queclink Wireless Solutions introduced Queclink Connect, a managed connectivity service that embeds secure, factory-installed worldwide IoT access across its telematics and smart device portfolio. It is designed to unify device hardware with connectivity setup, provisioning, and ongoing control so deployments can scale internationally with fewer carrier negotiations, less SIM logistics, and more predictable operations over the life of the device.

Powered by Global Security Tech Company: Giesecke+Devrient

Driven by Giesecke+Devrient’s IoTgo Connect, the solution uses the company’s protected connectivity management stack, rugged SIM and eSIM technologies, and multi‑IMSI reach across Tier‑1 carriers. Multi‑IMSI switching helps preserve service when roaming or facing local coverage gaps. The collaboration strengthens Queclink’s capacity to deliver dependable, scalable links for long‑running IoT solutions serving business and enterprise needs.

For connecting IoT devices in the field, Queclink deployments commonly rely on cellular connectivity for broad coverage, with options that can extend into low-power wide-area profiles (such as LTE‑M and NB‑IoT) where appropriate, and satellite tracking for assets that operate beyond dependable terrestrial networks. Data from devices is typically delivered to platforms through standard telematics transport methods (for example, TCP/UDP) and application-layer messaging patterns (such as MQTT or HTTP), depending on the solution architecture and customer requirements.

Lifecycle Management for Long-Term IoT Projects

Through IoTgo Connect, G+D supplies the secure backbone with centralized lifecycle control—spanning profile provisioning, in‑life operation, and ongoing oversight—for every stage of a device’s service. By unifying hardware and connectivity, the offering becomes a single, globally extensible foundation tailored to multi‑year IoT projects.

In fleet telematics, this kind of always-on connectivity supports day-to-day optimization by enabling near-real-time visibility, geofencing, route adherence monitoring, preventative maintenance workflows, and exception-based alerts that can improve utilization while helping manage fuel, downtime, and operating costs. For safety programs, connected devices can support incident reconstruction and coaching workflows through event-driven reporting, driver behavior signals, and policy-based notifications.

Queclink also supports video telematics use cases where connected camera systems and telematics data are combined to provide context around harsh driving, collisions, cargo incidents, and disputed events. For customers that standardize on Wialon, using compatible Queclink devices can streamline onboarding and operations through established device support, faster integration to fleet dashboards, and consistent reporting and alerting workflows across mixed fleets.

For temperature-sensitive logistics, Queclink’s cold chain solution centers on continuous monitoring of conditions such as temperature (and commonly humidity and door events), with configurable thresholds, alerting, and historical logs that help protect product quality during storage and transport across multiple legs of the supply chain.

Factory Integration for Cross-Border Deployments

As fleets, assets, and industrial IoT systems operate across countries and diverse cellular networks, connectivity governance is now mission‑critical. By baking worldwide access into devices at the manufacturing stage, the platform enables customers to launch in new markets with fewer logistics steps and lower operational friction.

Asset tracking scenarios enabled by this approach include monitoring the location, movement, and utilization of high-value mobile equipment, recovering stolen assets, and keeping tabs on non-powered assets that move across borders. Commonly tracked asset types and industries include logistics and transportation (trailers, containers, pallets), construction (equipment and attachments), rental and leasing (portable generators, light towers), and industrial operations (tools and site assets) where devices may frequently change regions, carriers, or operating conditions.

Satellite asset tracking is typically favored when assets operate in remote or offshore environments, traverse sparsely covered areas, or must maintain visibility during extended gaps in terrestrial service. In those situations, satellite connectivity helps address limitations of cellular coverage—such as dead zones, inconsistent roaming availability, and coverage variability in rugged terrain—so critical position and status updates can still be delivered.

For construction equipment in particular, suitable Queclink GPS tracking device choices often include rugged hardwired telematics units for powered machinery (supporting stable power, ignition awareness, and higher reporting rates) and battery-powered asset trackers for non-powered attachments or equipment that sits idle for long periods. Key construction-relevant capabilities commonly include durable enclosures, tamper detection, geofence and curfew alerts, motion and vibration sensing for utilization, and flexible installation options for harsh job-site conditions.

Industrial SIM Options and Multi-Network Coverage

Operational and device-readiness elements include:

Supports embedded SIMs (MFF2/MFF4) with UICC or eUICC.

Regional and worldwide multi-network access.

Activation and validation prior to delivery.

Industrial-grade SIM/eSIM for harsh environments.

Queclink Connect: Secure Global Iot Built-in

Launch Overview: A No-License Inertial Measurement Unit for Critical Navigation

Honeywell introduced the i700 within its HGuide line—an inertial measurement unit engineered to deliver precise performance for autonomous systems across uncrewed air, ground, and marine platforms. By pairing capability approaching navigation grade with a license-free classification, the device gives integrators a strong new choice for essential sensing and navigation.

Architecture and Satellite-Denied Navigation Performance

Drawing on the proven sensor suite and electronics lineage of Honeywell’s HG3900 inertial measurement unit, the compact, low-power i700 achieves near-navigation-grade precision and dependability. It is tuned to support longer-range navigation when satellite navigation signals are denied or intermittent.

Executive Perspective: Reliability and Simplicity

As teams pursue autonomous, robotic, and precision-guided capabilities, they expect inertial solutions that combine accuracy, reliability, and program fit, noted Matt Picchetti, vice president and general manager for Navigation and Sensors at Honeywell Aerospace. The unit delivers robust operation without satellite navigation within defined acceleration and rate limits, and its license-free package reduces development complexity while preserving confidence in the system.

As the newest member of Honeywell’s HGuide family of license-free inertial solutions, the i700 helps teams compress development timelines, simplify system architectures, and move to field deployment more quickly than earlier approaches.

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