Fugro's managing director, Grey Roughan, said that the Memorandum of Understanding with the global leader in light detection and ranging systems would enable Fugro to apply the latest endmost sophisticated airborne hydrographic system in its region.

"We have decided on aligning ourselves with Optech because it has the world's best systems for bathymetry and on-land terrain mapping," Roughan said.

"Also, there is enormous benefit to users that Optech is continuing its development program with the new SHOALS-1000 System for US Navy's CHARTS Program, and the Japan Coast Guard.

"We have already had experience with the system a couple of years ago when in partnership with New Zealand's Terralink we surveyed the seabed and coastline around the rugged Snares and Solander islands off the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island."

One of the systems' significant advantages is its capacity to operate in hazardous conditions. The system can also map adjacent beach areas.

SHOALS has been operating in North America by sister company Fugro Chance, which has just entered a five year contract with the US Army to operate and support the system, including three dimensional positioning of aircraft, maintenance and data collection.

"Fugro Australia sees the proposed memorandum of understanding with Optech as the first, significant step in bringing SHOALS to Australia on a long-term basis as an excellent addition to the company's existing suite of world class systems," said Roughan.