Accurate and Efficient Subsea Surveying with 3D Modeling

Zupt’s 3D Modeling service provides a precise and efficient way to capture, measure, and visualize subsea assets.
Using advanced 3D reconstruction methods, it produces high-resolution point clouds and mesh models that enable engineers to perform accurate measurements, support digital twin generation, and streamline inspection and metrology workflows.

This technology allows operators to view subsea assets in true scale and detail, helping reduce uncertainty and simplify offshore decision making. The system is easy to mobilize and integrates smoothly into existing inspection, repair, and maintenance operations.

Powered by 3D Recon Technology

At the core of Zupt’s 3D Modeling capability is the 3D Recon system. It is a subsea stereo imaging solution that combines high-resolution machine vision cameras with a compact MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU).
This configuration produces geospatially correct models even in challenging offshore conditions.

3D Recon V2 includes real-time dense reconstruction, allowing operators to verify coverage, assess quality, and confirm data completeness while still offshore. The system is depth rated to 4,000 meters and designed for fast setup with minimal disruption to ROV operations.

By integrating inertial navigation, stereo vision, and advanced computer vision algorithms, Zupt provides accurate 3D deliverables suitable for dimensional control, change detection, and engineering validation.

Applications and Benefits

Zupt’s 3D Modeling service supports a wide range of subsea projects, including:

• Pipeline and free span surveys
• Mooring, hull, and SPAR inspections
• Dimensional control and as-built documentation
• Anode depletion and corrosion monitoring
• Integrity management and asset tracking

Each project produces deliverables that are high-resolution, traceable, and spatially consistent, supporting repeatable measurements and time-based comparisons.

The ability to perform real-time quality control offshore helps reduce rework, vessel time, and operational risk while maintaining survey-grade accuracy.

Deliverables You Can Trust

Zupt’s modeling outputs are built for engineering precision.

Clients receive detailed, high-density 3D models that can be used for accurate, contactless measurements and for creating digital twins that evolve with every inspection.

Every model is delivered with a traceable workflow, providing confidence in the data and ensuring compatibility with engineering and asset management platforms.

3D Recon V2 Details

3D Recon V1 versus V2

Contact Zupt today to learn more.

Zupt began offshore trials in 2017 to implement remote metrology surveys using its C-PINS inertial navigation system. As drillships started conducting more jumper and spool metrologies, there were concerns about managing personnel on board, equipment logistics, and ensuring equipment readiness. Therefore, the shift towards remote metrology operations without deploying additional personnel to field sites was seen as a way to enhance efficiency and safety, with the bonus of reduced environmental impact. Zupt has had 100% success with 30+ remote surveys, and there have been no emergency offshore mobilizations to rectify operational downtime. This success translates into cost savings for clients, as Zupt's lumpsum remote metrology pricing model ensures predictable expenses.

The remote metrology procedure involves a few simple steps. Upon equipment arrival offshore, ROV personnel verify the packing case count against the manifest. The equipment is brought to the ROV deck days before the metrology operation for full system integration, ensuring reliable ROV and onshore communication. The day before the metrology, the ROV team gathers the CTD profile, assembles the C-PINS into lifting hardware, and attaches the stab. On the metrology day, the ROV team brings the system online. They check communications with Houston for ROV video, serial data (over ethernet), voice/phone, and data acquisition begins as if our personnel were sitting in the ROV control room with the pilots.

With offshore equipment interfacing handled by the ROV team, the onshore survey team can promptly initiate fabrication deliverables upon completion of the data acquisition with a deliverable to the client within 24 hours. Additionally, the known upfront cost of the metrology allows flexibility in the project schedule without being constrained by reducing day rates before and after the job.

The Benefits of Remote Metrology

• Lumpsum Cost: Remote metrology is a lumpsum cost, providing a generous fixed number of equipment days.
• Only Equipment Mobilized: Only the equipment is mobilized offshore, and no additional metrology personnel are needed. The equipment is mobilized well in advance of the metrology date and does not require urgent demobilization.
• Compact Equipment Spread: Equipment spread is compact and does not vary much based on operational conditions
• Real-time Data Acquisition: We complete data acquisition onshore in real-time with relatively low bandwidth requirements of 1024 KBPS. The offshore ROV team is provided with a detailed task plan and constantly communicates with the onshore team.

The advancement of technology is rapidly improving bandwidth availability and affordability, particularly with emerging satellite communication solutions such as Starlink, which signifies a positive trajectory for remote metrology services and enhances accessibility and reliability for clients.

Contact Zupt today to learn more about remote metrology services and how they can enhance your offshore operations.

Inertial Metrology using Zupt's C-PINS is a proven and efficient method to accurately determine the measurements required for jumper or spool fabrication between subsea assets. Over the past 16 years, Zupt has completed more than 400 inertial metrologies, which have proven to be more efficient than traditional LBL acoustic metrology methods, consistently saving an average of 50% vessel time. This efficiency translates to significant cost savings and enhanced productivity for offshore marine construction projects worldwide.

Zupt's inertial navigation system, C-PINS, has several advantages, one of which is its simple and efficient design. The system is self-contained and needs only one subsea connection to the ROV for both power and communication, making it simple to connect and communicate on any vessel, rig, or barge equipped with a work-class ROV. This reduction in setup time allows our survey team to immediately get to work, without the delays associated with complicated interfacing. 

In terms of accuracy, Zupt's inertial metrology solution consistently delivers precise measurements required for jumper or spool fabrication.  The data obtained by C-PINS is comparable to that acquired through traditional LBL acoustic metrology methods but with a significant speed advantage. It saves valuable vessel time by eliminating the need for an acoustic array and operates effectively in shallow water or in the presence of drilling noise and vibration.

Another significant benefit offered by Zupt's inertial metrology is real-time quality control. Clients can confidently make decisions during survey operations with precise assessments available in millimeters or fractions of a degree throughout the data collection process in real-time. The final deliverable is provided within 24 hours after data collection, minimizing project downtime, and contains all metrology data required for jumper or spool fabrication.

Inertial Metrology offers a proven, efficient, and accurate solution for determining measurements crucial to subsea jumper/spool fabrication. By maximizing productivity, minimizing project timelines, and reducing operational costs, Zupt's inertial metrology enables faster, cost-effective project completion.

The Benefits of Inertial Metrology

• Vessel Time Savings: A significant reduction in vessel time, averaging 50% time savings compared to traditional LBL acoustic metrology methods.
• Simple Interface: Efficient operations with a one-connector interface to the ROV and short communication checks.
• Minimal Downtime: Elimination of the need for installing acoustic arrays, to immediately get to work
• High Accuracy: Delivering precise measurements required for jumper or spool fabrication
• Quality Control: Real-time quality control during data collection
• Quick Deliverable: Deliverable to the client within 24 hours after data collection is complete

Contact Zupt today to learn more about inertial metrology services and how they can enhance your offshore operations.

We are a recognized global leader in developing and deploying advanced survey solutions for offshore applications. All of our core technologies are developed in-house, which allows us to maintain continuous innovation and strong quality control.

We Specialize In

• Subsea positioning

• Inertial subsea jumper and spool metrology

• Remote subsea survey operations

• 3D subsea modeling

• Subsea monitoring and integrity management

• Offshore wind installations in the renewables industry

Our Key Technologies Include

• C-PINS
  Subsea inertial navigation system, used in over 400 metrologies

• iRTS
  Integrated Robotic Total Station for monopile positioning in offshore renewables

• 3D Recon
  High-resolution 3D point cloud generation for offshore subsea modeling

• HaloCAM
  Contactless subsea structure positioning with HD imaging

• Zupt Mux
  4000-meter rated 10GB Network switch for sensor integration

Our Solutions Consistently

• ● Reduce vessel time

• ● Improve operational efficiency

• ● Minimize offshore risk

We Support Clients Across

• ● Offshore Energy

• ● Marine Construction

• ● Subsea Inspection

• ● Subsea Survey

Who We Are

• ● An agile team that can say "yes" faster

• ● Experts delivering tailored solutions for complex offshore projects

• ● Focused on making advanced technology simple and reliable to use

• ● Deeply experienced in integrating navigation, positioning, localization, and perception sensors

• ● Driven to deliver timely, results-focused operations through smart technology

At Zupt, we simplify complex offshore operations. Our mission is to deliver faster, more accurate results through advanced technologies built for real-world performance.

Operating in 20 countries and counting, we support offshore projects around the world with solutions including subsea positioning, integrity management and inspection, monopile installation support, and inertial metrology.

Every system is designed to be efficient, reliable, and easy to use so your team can stay focused on getting the job done right.

“It was a pleasure to have Zupt involved with one of our Client’s projects. Their never say ‘no’ attitude and ability to work with us on a one-to-one basis clearly helped deliver a very successful and timely project.”

“Zupt has been a close partner of Total for many years. They have demonstrated a very high degree of professionalism and lots of competence in developing a pure Inertial solution for Deepwater metrology.”