NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: physical sciences, topography, geography, aerial survey

Objective(s): Shell Canada Ltd. wishes to conduct an Aerial Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) survey of the Niglintgak Gas Field in order to determine the height of the land in relation to sea level. This information will be used in the selection of a site upon which to develop a production facility. The LIDAR system will be mounted on a Bell 206B single engine helicopter and uses a 30 KHz near-infrared laser ("eye-safe" at 10 m) to map terrain features. An optimal flight altitude will be determined through discussion with Canadian Wildlife Service. The survey flight will also be recorded using digital videography. The entire research program will be conducted within an eight hour block of time. On the day of the survey, the helicopter will fly from Inuvik to the survey site. A single individual, the surveyor, will disembark at 2-3 locations within the survey area to place retro reflectors and a GPS base station on the ground at each location. Once installation of the GPS base stations and retro reflectors is complete, the helicopter will fly to Camp Farewell to conduct its inertial initialization. The helicopter will then return to the survey area and commence a 2.5 hour grid-pattern survey flight over the same survey area. Upon completion, the retro reflectors and GPS base stations will be collected in the same manner as they were installed, and the helicopter will refuel at Swimming Point before proceeding on to Inuvik.