NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: physical sciences, topography, geography, aerial survey

Objective(s): Imperial Oil wishes to conduct an aerial Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) survey of a portion of the Taglu Gas Field in order to determine the height of the land in relation to sea level. 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. A minimum flight altitude of 300 m has been determined through discussion with Canadian Wildlife Service; the average operational height will be 700-800 m. The survey flight will also be recorded using digital videography. The research program will be conducted over 2 days, with approximately 5 hours of flight time per day. On the days of the survey, the helicopter will fly from Inuvik to the survey site. Calibration will take place in Inuvik. A single crewmember will disembark at 2 locations (Camp Farewell and at an existing wellhead marker located outside of the Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary but within the survey area) to place a GPS base station on the ground at each location. Static inertial initialization of the helicopter's navigational unit and GPS receiver will also take place at Camp Farewell. The helicopter will survey the area using a grid-pattern survey flight. At the end of each day, the GPS base stations will be collected. Refuelling will occur at Swimming Point.