Friday, 17 July 2009 – Blom has been awarded a bathymetric laser scanning (LiDAR) contract by the Center for Underwater Archeology for a survey of the coastline of the Black Sea in Bulgaria.
The Center for Underwater Archeology is the public organization in Bulgaria responsible for the protection and preservation of the Bulgarian underwater cultural heritage. The project is established to identify archaeological sites on the Bulgarian coastline to enhance maritime cultural resource preservation and protection and enable further scientific research.
The bathymetric LiDAR scanning survey will be carried out by Blom Bulgaria and Blom Aerofilms, Blom’s UK subsidiary. The survey covers app. 100 sq.km of the Bulgarian coastline in the Black Sea. The project will be carried out using Hawkeye technology. The Hawkeye system is a LiDAR instrument for bathymetric surveys, representing one of the leading bathymetric technologies available on the market. Bathymetric surveys are laser scanning of the coastline, both seabed and land.
“The project for the Center for Underwater Archeology represents an important step for the introduction of the Hawkeye technology to the Bulgarian market as it is Blom’s first contract in Bulgaria using this kind of application”, says Håkon Jacobsen, COO Blom Group. Hawkeye has proven to be successfully used in other European countries, by other Blom subsidiaries, and Blom believes that this project will open for a new market for bathymetric laser scanning in the Black Sea region.
The project is expected to be finalized during forth quarter 2009.
About Blom
Blom is a leading pan-European Geographic Information company. Blom is the largest European company within collection and processing of map information. Blom has unique databases of map and image information and develop applications and services for Location Based Services and navigation. Blom has more than 1,200 employees and subsidiaries in 13 countries. The company headquarter is located in Oslo, Norway. www.blomasa.com
About Center for Underwater Archeology
The Centre for Underwater Archaeology is the official organization in Bulgaria responsible for the protection and preservation of the Bulgarian underwater cultural heritage. The activities of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology are aimed at: investigation, recording and protection of the underwater cultural heritage of Bulgaria (the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, rivers and lakes) by applying multidisciplinary scientific research methods; scientific processing and interpretation of the data and finds acquired as a result of underwater archaeological investigations; activities and consultancy in the field of underwater archaeological research; organization of national and international events in the field of underwater archaeology; organization of exhibitions, promotion of cultural heritage and publishing activities in Bulgaria and abroad; training in the field of underwater archaeology.