Subterranean navigation suffers from similar difficulties of subsea navigation. Obviously, there are more solutions for subsea, such as close proximity line of sight in any direction, and of course SONAR. The accuracy of SONAR is subject to the accuracy of acoustic transducers placed in arrays on the seabed. These arrays are costly and over large survey/work areas there is a compromise between accuracy and coverage. More coverage and greater accuracy both required more expensive transducer arrays and more expensive vessel time to install and remove them. This cost for offshore oil & gas development has driven the technical advancement of inertia based navigation systems, which was not economical to develop for caving.
This will not solve the problem of communication with the surface when caving, but it would be an answer for mapping and navigation. This luncheon and discussion is open to everyone interested I believe. Cheers, -Brian ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Wood, Melissa FGSI <mw...@fugro.com> List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 10:41 AM Subject: Houston Chapter of THSOA "Technical Panel and Discussion Luncheon" To: In September of 2008, the The Hydrographic Society of America - Houston Chapter (THSOA-HC) held a "Technical Panel and Discussion Luncheon" at the Omni in Houston entitled: *Inertial Navigation Systems for Deepwater Subsea Positioning. “Where Are We"? * Now, we're almost two years on and no doubt much may well have changed in both the development & manufacturing of inertial-based navigations systems as well as perhaps, how operators may be approaching deepwater positioning operations and applications differently, and in answer to what "new" requirements if any have "surfaced"! The Houston Chapter therefore feels it worthwhile to revisit this hi-tech and somewhat impacting discussion to see exactly what has transpired and therefore, to answer the question: *"How Far Have We Come".* Note that we will *not* have a morning tutorial session this year. This year then, we will be holding the *"Technical Panel and Discussion Luncheon"* from 11:30a.m. thru 1:30p.m. on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at Embassy Suites Houston - Energy Corridor: Embassy Suites Houston - Energy Corridor 11730 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas, United States 77079 Tel: 1-281-531-7300 Fax: 1-281-531-7301 Web: http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/<http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/HOUEYES-Embassy-Suites-Houston-Energy-Corridor-Texas/index.do> * * *TOPIC: * Inertial Navigation Systems for Deepwater Subsea Positioning :"How far have we come". We intend to maintain the format of the previous 2008 discussion by splitting the panel(s) and session(s) into a “User” segment and a “Manufacturer” segment. *USER SEGMENT:* We plan to have a panel of 6 speakers from the user segment. This will include operators, survey contractors and end-clients. The panel members will provide a brief 5 minute introductory presentation including capability and product development improvements over the last 2 years, what they want to see in future systems and deployment of the technology as a user, and exportation issues associated with INS systems in deep water subsea positioning. Invited panel members will include end-users of INS-based systems and a panel from the manufacturers segment to include system integrators and hardware/software solution providers. The panels will discuss many topics including technology trends, implementation issues, market access and import/export issues. We also aim to include a segment that may include a legal presence available to address questions from the floor regarding regulations, current and future on the importing, handling, and exporting of INS based systems. Our discussion Moderator, Speakers, and Panel Members will be announced shortly. Please continue to visit the Houston Chapter website at http://houston.thsoa.org for more updates as they come about. The luncheon will have limited seating – see below for RSVP instructions. ------------------------------ Prospective Panel Members RSVP to the Technical Chair <http://julian.ricka...@sonardyne.com> by *August 31st* if you would like to participate as a panel member and include a brief narrative of your capability and subject matter and which panel you would like to represent if selected. General Attendance Please visit the THSOA website to register for attendance: http://houston.thsoa.org Many thanks and hope to see many of you there!! __________________________________ THSOA-Houston Chapter Fund Raising/Events/Newsletter * Melissa Wood Marketing Representative * ** *Fugro GeoServices, Inc.* 6100 Hillcroft Drive Houston, Tx 77081 (office (713) 369-5837 )cell (713) 305-7361 *email mw...@fugro.com ]web *www.fgsi.fugro.com* *"Our mission is to Provide Superior Surveying Solutions Safely"* -- Brian Riordan 979-218-8009 (Mobile) riordan.br...@gmail.com