System enables real-time viewing of subsea inspections

Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Shearwater and the university, the two organisations are said to have designed new systems that can instantly upload underwater images and technical information to a central database.

According to a statement, this new form of video and technical data transfer will allow office-based decision-makers to view the dive and communicate with the dive site in real time.

The system allows specific time-coded reference points and comments to be logged with stored video and output reports can be produced quickly. Vital for the oil and gas industry, real-time decisions can be made to ensure damage mitigation and prevent costly further problems.

The Glasgow Caledonian University team comprises Prof Brian Stewart, Alan Nesbitt and Dr Ali Ahmadinia from the School of Engineering and Built Environment.

Stewart said: ‘Using current technology, we have developed innovative recording and database systems for Shearwater that allows instantaneous streaming and upload of images, as well as other key technical information to a central electronic database, so that dives can be viewed and assessed immediately.