From our work with armoring of breakwaters using single layer concrete blocks such as ACCROPODE™, Xbloc™, CORE-LOC, Tetrapods and the like, the CodaOctopus^® Construction Monitoring Software (CMS) used in conjunction with our real time 3D volumetric sonar, Echoscope^®, allows the crane operator to visualize and track a moving block suspended in the water column into its design placement position.  Our breakwater solution allows the crane operator to see the underwater slope, placed blocks and guide in real time the new placement block moving underwater.

A critical difference between the standard machine-control systems and our real-time 3D sonar solutions, is the ability to constantly visualize the blocks and the slope integrity at all times irrespective of zero visibility conditions. It is very common when constructing breakwaters in harsh conditions for slope damage to occur and for laid blocks to move and settle as each panel is completed. CMS provides complete awareness for the operator of these changes in real-time and the ability to document and make necessary changes simply and effectively without significant rework costs or non-conformance issues arising.

Through the use of the CodaOctopus^® Underwater Survey Explorer (USE) software with the CMS module, the operator is able to build up a complete database showing the as-laid nature of the single layer armoring of the entire breakwater if positioning and heading sensors are in available. 

Increased productivity through the time saving benefits of this approach have been proven, while reducing diver time in the water beside these heavy and cumbersome blocks has led to increased safety levels on-site.