Fugro NPA
Encyclopedia
Fugro NPA is the longest-established satellite mapping specialist in Europe, with expertise in geoscience applications of earth observation and remote sensing. In addition to processing and distributing data from a variety of optical and radar satellites, Fugro NPA specialises in added-value and derived products, providing validation and interpretation of satellite-based imagery.
, a Dutch group who provide geotechnical, survey and geoscience services to the oil, gas, mining and construction industries. The company remains based in Edenbridge
, UK.
s (DEMs), building height maps, 3D views and fly-throughs.
data to detect oil seepage from potential reservoirs.
(InSAR) can generate maps of surface deformation or elevation, using satellite radar data. Depending on the situation, InSAR can detect and monitor centimetre to millimetre scale deformation over wide areas, right down to monitoring of local areas and structures. Applications include monitoring of urban structures, infrastructure, tunnelling, subsidence, landslides, resource extraction and geological phenomena.
In addition to a wide variety of commercial projects, they have a significant involvement with national and European bodies such as British National Space Centre
, British Geological Survey
and the European Space Agency
(ESA). Major projects include Terrafirma, which provides a ground motion hazard information service distributed throughout Europe via national geological surveys and institutions, and the Pipemon project which studied remote sensing technology for routing and monitoring of pipelines. Their PSI study of London in collaboration with the Environment Agency
received national press coverage, showing ongoing subsidence in east London.
Company
The company was founded in 1972 as Nigel Press Associates. In April 2008 the company was acquired by FugroFugro
Fugro N.V. is a Dutch multinational company headquartered in Leidschendam. The current president is K.S. Wester.Fugro provides geotechnical, survey and geoscience services to oil, gas, mining and construction industries...
, a Dutch group who provide geotechnical, survey and geoscience services to the oil, gas, mining and construction industries. The company remains based in Edenbridge
Edenbridge
Edenbridge may mean:*Edenbridge , a symphonic metal band from Austria*Edenbridge, Kent, a town in England*Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, a former Jewish settlement in Canada...
, UK.
Imagery and Elevation Data
Fugro NPA distributes optical and radar imagery at a range of resolutions, maintaining one of the largest private satellite image archives, and provide advice and acquisition services for more specific customer applications. As a member of the SARCOM consortium, Fugro NPA also distribute radar data from the ESA satellites. The company also supply satellite and airborne derived terrain and elevation products, including Digital Elevation ModelDigital elevation model
A digital elevation model is a digital model or 3-D representation of a terrain's surface — commonly for a planet , moon, or asteroid — created from terrain elevation data....
s (DEMs), building height maps, 3D views and fly-throughs.
Oil and Mineral Exploration
Fugro NPA specialises in a range of techniques for both onshore and offshore exploration. Onshore, their expertise in structural geological interpretation and mineral mapping is increasingly complemented by newer applications such as seismic planning, subsidence mapping and reservoir modelling. Offshore, NPA's Global Offshore Seep Project uses SARSynthetic aperture radar
Synthetic-aperture radar is a form of radar whose defining characteristic is its use of relative motion between an antenna and its target region to provide distinctive long-term coherent-signal variations that are exploited to obtain finer spatial resolution than is possible with conventional...
data to detect oil seepage from potential reservoirs.
Ground Stability
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture RadarInterferometric synthetic aperture radar
Interferometric synthetic aperture radar, also abbreviated InSAR or IfSAR, is a radar technique used in geodesy and remote sensing. This geodetic method uses two or more synthetic aperture radar images to generate maps of surface deformation or digital elevation, using differences in the phase of...
(InSAR) can generate maps of surface deformation or elevation, using satellite radar data. Depending on the situation, InSAR can detect and monitor centimetre to millimetre scale deformation over wide areas, right down to monitoring of local areas and structures. Applications include monitoring of urban structures, infrastructure, tunnelling, subsidence, landslides, resource extraction and geological phenomena.
In addition to a wide variety of commercial projects, they have a significant involvement with national and European bodies such as British National Space Centre
British National Space Centre
The British National Space Centre was a British government body that coordinated civil space activities for the UK. It was replaced on 1 April 2010 by the UK Space Agency.-Structure:...
, British Geological Survey
British Geological Survey
The British Geological Survey is a partly publicly funded body which aims to advance geoscientific knowledge of the United Kingdom landmass and its continental shelf by means of systematic surveying, monitoring and research. The BGS headquarters are in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, but other centres...
and the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA). Major projects include Terrafirma, which provides a ground motion hazard information service distributed throughout Europe via national geological surveys and institutions, and the Pipemon project which studied remote sensing technology for routing and monitoring of pipelines. Their PSI study of London in collaboration with the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
received national press coverage, showing ongoing subsidence in east London.
See also
- Remote SensingRemote sensingRemote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
- Geographic information systemGeographic Information SystemA geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
(GIS) - GeomaticsGeomaticsGeomatics is the discipline of gathering, storing, processing, and delivering geographic information, or spatially referenced information.-Overview and etymology:...
- Geophysical surveyGeophysical surveyGeophysical survey is the systematic collection of geophysical data for spatial studies. Geophysical surveys may use a great variety of sensing instruments, and data may be collected from above or below the Earth's surface or from aerial or marine platforms. Geophysical surveys have many...
- Interferometric Synthetic Aperture RadarInterferometric synthetic aperture radarInterferometric synthetic aperture radar, also abbreviated InSAR or IfSAR, is a radar technique used in geodesy and remote sensing. This geodetic method uses two or more synthetic aperture radar images to generate maps of surface deformation or digital elevation, using differences in the phase of...
- Imagery AnalysisImagery analysisImagery analysis is the extraction of useful information from bi-dimensional graphic formats, including screen shots. This includes color and black-and-white photographs, infra-red photographs and video, radar screens and synthetic aperture radar formats, ultrasound, EKG, EEG, MRI, echo...
- Imaging ScienceImaging scienceImaging science is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the generation, collection, duplication, analysis, modification, and visualization of images . As an evolving field it includes research and researchers from physics, mathematics, electrical engineering, computer vision, computer science,...
- Land coverLand CoverLand cover is the physical material at the surface of the earth. Land covers include grass, asphalt, trees, bare ground, water, etc. There are two primary methods for capturing information on land cover: field survey and analysis of remotely sensed imagery....
- List of Earth observation satellites
- Synthetic Aperture RadarSynthetic aperture radarSynthetic-aperture radar is a form of radar whose defining characteristic is its use of relative motion between an antenna and its target region to provide distinctive long-term coherent-signal variations that are exploited to obtain finer spatial resolution than is possible with conventional...