# BlueROV/BlueBoat Vertical wall Scan/Survey **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** survey\ **Created:** [September 14, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590 "2026-09-14T14:54:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dalton](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/dalton)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590/1 "2026-09-14T14:54:18Z")
Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone who has experience surveying vertical underwater structures, particularly quay/berthing walls, using a BlueBoat and/or BlueROV2. We have a project involving quay wall, approximately 2.1km in length and up to 20 m high (around 42 000 m2), the client wants a primarily visual inspection but is also interested in accurate scanning/3D mapping of the vertical wall and any defects found. The visibility will be very poor to average so photogrammetry is not really a good option. Our initial idea is to use: **BlueBoat – large-area screening** - Cerulean Surveyor 240-16 Multibeam Echo Sounder or similar, mounted sideways. - Run parallel to the wall at a controlled stand-off distance. **BlueROV2 Heavy – detailed inspection** - High-resolution camera/lighting. - Potentially another subsea 3D/laser scanner for detailed defect mapping. But this may not work due to poor visibility. I’d really appreciate any input from anyone who has done something similar: - What sonar/scanner did you use? - How did you mount and orient it for a vertical wall? - How well could you identify relatively small defects on the sonar image? - Would you use the BlueBoat for rapid screening of the vertical wall and the BlueROV2 for detailed follow-up, or approach it differently? Any real-world experience, recommendations or examples would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![tony-white](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/tony-white/32/18385_2.png) [@tony-white](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/tony-white)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590/2 "2026-09-14T16:38:07Z")
Hi @dalton - If using a BlueBoat, the Cerulean [Omniscan 3D](https://ceruleansonar.com/product/omniscan-3d-450-ss/#documentation) is much better suited than the Multibeam Echo-sounder mounted sideways… If visibility is poor, I’m not sure an ROV makes sense at all! Do you know how far you can see through the water typically? Mapping with an ROV would be a big pain compared to the BlueBoat - you have to manage the tether, scanning a region set by the tether length, and then moving along. You also don’t have as good an absolute position for the ROV since it is underwater. However, a visual inspection would be the highest fidelity possible, vs sonar! If using an ROV, I would forego sonar, and potentially even lights as they can cause significant backscatter. The new 4k Cam has incredible low light sensitivity and gets a great picture in many conditions, I’ve had great results with photogrammetry using it! Without a positioning system on the ROV tagging captured images with location, the processed model would not be too scale without use of additional materials, like scaling references… ---
**Author:** ![dalton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dalton](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/dalton)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590/3 "2026-09-14T17:10:48Z")
Thanks @tony-white! Yes we are not planning to use the ROV for survey as we have a BlueBoat on hand. We will use the BlueBoat for a map of the wall and then use the ROV to visually inspect any potential issues we find on that Map. The location is a Port and from my experience the vis can range from about 30cm - about 2m, which is less than ideal for photogrammetry. However maybe i can pick a good enough day to focus solely on the issues discovered in the scan. Question: Do you believe the Omniscan 3D will have a large enough beam angle to scan a quay wall that can be anywhere between 10 - 20 high from the surface? And how accurate of an image would it generate at what distance from the wall? eg running 2m off the wall or 10m? I appreciate your feed back and look forward to your response! ---
**Author:** ![tony-white](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/tony-white/32/18385_2.png) [@tony-white](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/tony-white)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590/4 "2026-09-14T17:23:37Z")
Hi @dalton - That approach makes sense to me! 1-2m visibility should be sufficient for photogrammetry… The Omniscan 3D should be able to image the 10-20m tall wall without issue - it detects “water column points” automatically, all the way to the surface! For specifics on how far offset to scan from, I’d recommend [chatting about your application with Cerulean Sonar.](https://ceruleansonar.com/about/contact/) ---
**Author:** ![dalton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dalton](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/dalton)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:28pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590/5 "2026-09-14T17:28:54Z")
Many Thanks @tony-white your assistance is greatly appretiated! ---
**Author:** ![dalton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dalton](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/dalton)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590/6 "2026-09-14T17:35:08Z")
@tony-white what are your thoughts on a laser scanner/ lidar? If it is turbid water would it be worth using one of these applications over the camera or just about the same? ---
**Author:** ![tony-white](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/tony-white/32/18385_2.png) [@tony-white](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/tony-white)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590/7 "2026-09-14T17:50:25Z")
Hi @dalton - A laser scaler, that shows 2 laser dots a know distance apart could be used to scale things you see in images - it is a very “old school” solution. I’m not aware of any laser scanners that function underwater… ---
**Author:** ![dalton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dalton](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/dalton)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/bluerov-blueboat-vertical-wall-scan-survey/23590/8 "2026-09-14T18:01:44Z")
There is this one at quite a hefty price… > **[Insight Laser Scanners - Voyis](https://voyis.com/insight-laser-scanners/)** > > The Voyis Insight underwater laser scanners capture incredibly detailed 3D laser point cloud data for clearer surveys and inspections.