Navigation and Geodetic Support

To ensure the management of 2D geophysical surveys, GP specialists developed the RGP-2D integrated navigation complex (INC). The rights to this complex are protected by a patent.

Currently, the RGP-2D INC is installed on two shallow SMNG vessels. To process the navigation data on these ships, the Navtest software package is used, which was also developed at the SMNG.

Integrated navigation systems Spectra and Orca from ION Concept Systems were installed on the deep-sea vessels of the SMNG.

The geodetic division of the company uses the most modern technologies in the field of high-precision determination of coordinates for positioning ships and technological equipment in the production of geophysical surveys.

The SMNG has a long-term contract with Fugro Survey AS for the provision of equipment and differential signal. Fugro StarFix XP and Fugro StarFix G2 services are global high-precision (0.1 meters in plan) PPP services, independent of remoteness from base stations. StarFix XP and Fugro StarFix G2 (GPS + GLONASS) are also independent positioning systems, because they use different sets of corrections - XP corrections from JPL, and G2 - from Fugro.

At the request of the customer, SMNG also uses the equipment and signal from VERIPOS and C-Nav.

Navigation systems on SMNG vessels are integrated with sensors for heading guidance, depth measurement, positioning of braids, lines of pneumatic sources, etc. As a rule, these are equipment and systems of modern developments of leading world companies:

• gyrocompasses SG Brown Meridian, Sperry Marine Navigat X MK;
• echo sounders from SIMRAD, DESO and RESON, Kongsberg EM710 multi-beam echo sounder;
• sonar sonar positioning systems from Sonardyne;
• trailer buoys with positioning systems Fugro SeaTrack, etc.

The cameral detachment of the geodesic party accompanies field work, starting from the design stage, calculating grids of 2D profiles, optimizing the contours of 3D objects, calculating the optimal sequence of mining, to controlling the processed navigation data and building reporting tablets.

Another equally important task of the cameral team is to improve the geographic information system (GIS) created in the SMNG that integrates geographic, geological, and geophysical data, as well as information about licensed areas, drilled wells, and local structures.

Almost 4,500 maps were digitized (isochron maps, structural, tectonic maps, etc.) compiled from the results of the SMNG work in the Arctic seas of Russia.

SMNG uses ESRI software - ArcGIS Server 10.2 and ArcGIS Desktop 10.2 and its own development on the ArcGIS platform.

The SMNG Central Office in Murmansk provides technical support to ship navigation services.

Perpetual licenses were obtained for the implementation of the geodetic and cartographic activities of the SMNG.