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Projects & Case Studies

Case Studies & Mission References

Every mission is project-specific — asset, visibility conditions, reporting requirement and sector determine methodology and deliverables. The following anonymised case studies show what a typical ScanSustain project delivers: structured data, traceable methodology, audit-grade handover.

3 sectors 15 h deployment time 14 dives avoided 0 operational disruptions

All case studies are anonymised. On request and with client clearance we can name concrete references.

Case studies

Three missions from three sectors — with identical demands for documentation depth and reproducibility.

Ports & marine construction Upper Austria ROV inspection

Quay wall and dolphin inspection — inland harbour

Situation: A port operator required a condition assessment of 3 dolphins and approximately 120 m of quay wall as the basis for maintenance planning. Previous diver operations were costly and produced only verbal protocols without a comparable data basis.
Approach: ROV inspection with HD camera and lighting. Systematic traversal of all structures along a defined route with video recording. Targeted stills at damage locations, biofouling zones and joints. No harbour downtime.
Result: Structured findings report with image references, damage classification and recommended actions. Handover to the planning engineering office within 3 working days.
Deliverables: HD video (4 h) · 180+ stills · damage classification table · findings report (PDF) · method protocol with route for follow-up inspection.
Duration: 4 h Documented: 120 m quay wall + 3 dolphins Dives avoided: 6

Linked clusters: Sector Ports & marine construction · ROV inspection · ROV vs. Diver

Industry & energy Bavaria ROV + Sonar

Cooling water basin inspection — energy utility

Situation: An energy utility needed to assess the condition of a cooling water basin (approx. 800 m²) without interrupting operations. Draining was neither economically nor operationally feasible — the facility supplies cooling water to an ongoing production process.
Approach: ROV deployment during ongoing operations. Sonar support for areas with restricted visibility caused by suspended matter. Full video coverage of floor, walls and inlet sections along a documented route.
Result: Documentation of all visible deposits and condition features. Report with comparison photos as a monitoring baseline for future recurring inspections. Basis for internal maintenance planning and budgeting.
Deliverables: HD video (6 h) · sonar dataset · 240+ stills · deposit map · monitoring baseline report · reproducibility memo for the follow-up inspection.
Duration: 6 h Documented: approx. 800 m² basin area Downtime: None

Linked clusters: Sector Industry & energy · ROV inspection · Sonar & scanning · Monitoring

Authorities & municipalities Salzburg Structural inspection

Bridge pier inspection — river structure

Situation: A regional road authority required an underwater condition survey of 4 bridge piers as part of a routine structural inspection under the state inspection guideline. Requirement: authority-ready documentation that can flow into the inspection file without rework.
Approach: ROV inspection of each pier on all four sides, from waterline to riverbed. Documentation of scour, biofouling, concrete condition and joints along a reproducible route.
Result: Photo documentation with position reference per pier, summary report for the structural database. Used as a comparison baseline for future inspection cycles — the first data point of the time series.
Deliverables: HD video (5 h) · 160+ position-referenced stills · findings report in inspection guideline format · damage classification · method and reproducibility memo · integration with structural database.
Duration: 5 h Documented: 4 bridge piers Dives avoided: 8

Linked clusters: Sector Authorities & municipalities · ROV inspection · Monitoring

What a ScanSustain project typically delivers

Regardless of sector and asset, every project ends in a structured data package. These three building blocks are the minimum delivery — scope and format are agreed in the briefing.

Raw data package

Video, photos, sonar — chronologically sorted, with time and position reference. Directly archive-ready, without post-processing.

Structured findings report

Summary with image references, damage classification and action recommendations — in the format of the commissioning body.

Reproducibility memo

Method protocol and route for every follow-up inspection. Ensures the next survey connects as a time series.

Typical project workflow

Five steps with defined input and output — the shared path of every mission. Fully documented on the process page.

1. Briefing

Goal, area, conditions and reporting format are clarified — by phone, email or a brief meeting.

2. Mission

ROV operation from shore, jetty or vessel. Live feed on request. Systematic capture along a defined route, without operational downtime.

3. Handover

Structured data package: video, photos, report and reproducibility memo — within a few working days after the mission.

Which projects fit ScanSustain?

The three case studies cover three sectors. The methodology works in all other sectors too, fully documented in the sector overview:

Ports & marine construction

Quay walls, dolphins, locks, sheet piles.

Authorities & municipalities

Bridges, weirs, fish ladders, bank structures.

Industry & energy

Basins, inlets, coolers, pipelines.

Environment & conservation

EIA baseline, habitat mapping, monitoring.

Insurance & expert witness

Evidence preservation, damage capture, search.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a typical project look like?

After a short briefing we plan the mission, carry out the ROV deployment on site and deliver the results in a structured data package. The ScanSustain process describes the five steps in detail.

Can you deploy at short notice?

Yes. Depending on scope and travel distance, short-notice deployments are possible — particularly important for casualties, damage events or post-flood surveys. For plannable projects we recommend a brief lead time for route and target planning.

In which waters can you operate?

In fresh and salt water, harbours, rivers, lakes, basins and industrial facilities — as long as water access is available. ROV missions are usually permitted even in protected areas and sensitive conservation contexts because the deployment is non-contact.

Are results comparable over multiple years?

Yes — that is the central advantage over conventional diver deployments. Every initial survey is archived with method protocol and route. The follow-up inspection can reproduce the exact same path.

Can we get references with client names?

All case studies on this page are anonymised because we work discreetly under contract. On request, and with clearance from the respective client, we can name concrete references — please bring it up in the briefing.

Related pages

Service spectrum

The six service areas at a glance — what sits behind the deliverables.

Sector overview

Which services fit which sector.

The ScanSustain process

Five steps with defined input and output.

ROV vs. Diver

The decision guide — why the documentation above looks the way it does.

Similar project? Tell us in the briefing which deliverables you need.

Brief a mission
Plan inspection