November 2015 – for immediate release
Further information: Helen Porter, +44 1904 736736
Renishaw launches a new dedicated time-tagged marine lidar system to help
cut the cost of vessel-based surveying
Global engineering technologies company Renishaw is pleased to announce the launch of Merlin, the
latest innovative laser scanner in its range of mobile 3D mapping products.
Merlin supports safer, faster and more complete marine survey data acquisition for efficient coastal,
offshore and inland waterway project management and enhanced decision-making capabilities for
vessel operators.
The first mapping product launched under the Renishaw brand, Merlin has been engineered
specifically for use in the challenging marine environment and to help significantly cut the cost of
vessel-based laser scanning.
Renishaw’s low-cost, low-maintenance solution to the hydrographic surveying industry’s increasing
demand for a cost-effective marine laser scanner, Merlin speeds up operations, improves crew and
vessel safety, and produces more complete point clouds for better data analysis.
The Merlin laser scanner is unique in that it offers seamless integration with existing vessel hardware
and software. This means that vessel operators do not duplicate costly equipment, infrastructure and
technologies that they already own. This cost-effective access to the advanced lidar technology
required for exceptional surveying enables smart vessel operators to expand their product offering at
low cost.
Renishaw has worked closely with the world’s leading hydrographic software companies to develop
Merlin’s new dedicated Renishaw SLM driver, which is fully operational with the following major
industry-standard software packages:
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HYSWEEP® multi-beam collection and editing software from HYPACK®. Fully operational in
the HYSWEEP_15.0.18 version of HYPACK® 15.
NaviScan and Kuda sonar and laser data acquisition software from EIVA.
QINSy (Quality Integrated Navigation System) hydrographic data acquisition software from
QPS.
Teledyne PDS software for hydrographic survey and dredging operations (version 3.9.5.4 and
newer).
Using time-of-flight laser technology, Merlin quickly measures and records time-tagged geo-referenced
data points above the waterline. This time-tagged information can now be synchronised with the
vessel’s bathymetric data captured below the waterline, which means that a detailed 3D map of the full
marine environment can be captured simultaneously. Acquiring the full point cloud in a single pass
significantly reduces project timescales and the amount of time that survey teams have to spend in
challenging conditions.
“We’re excited to be able to present the hydrographic surveying community with the first laser scanner
dedicated to cost-effective marine surveying,” says Karl Bradshaw, Business Manager for Renishaw’s
mapping product range. “Merlin is not only versatile, it is also extremely robust – designed and
manufactured to Renishaw’s exacting standards. This unique laser scanning system provides survey
companies and their end clients with a value-added solution to plan and undertake safer, faster and
more comprehensive projects and we look forward to working closely with them.”
“There’s currently nothing else like Merlin on the market,” said Cam Thomas, Technical Manager of
Renishaw's Spatial Measurement Division. “Renishaw is proud to be the first to offer marine surveyors
a safe, quick and accurate way to gather above-water detail while completing their regular underwater
surveys, and we are certain that Merlin will gain rapid market adoption.”
Renishaw’s Merlin marine lidar system will launch at the Hydro 2015 conference and exhibition in
Cape Town this month to an international audience of hydrographic marine surveyors, civil engineers,
oceanographers, geophysicists and other marine professionals. Renishaw will also be showcasing
Merlin in December at the International Workboat Show in New Orleans, USA.
For further information on Renishaw’s new Merlin dedicated marine time-tagged laser scanner please
visit www.renishaw.com/merlin
-ENDSNotes to editors
1. Renishaw plc is one of the world's leading engineering and scientific technology companies,
with metrology expertise, including developing laser systems and sensors for highperformance mapping, surveying, positioning and measuring in extreme environments.
2. The Renishaw Group currently has more than 70 offices in 33 countries, with over
4,000 employees, of which 2,700 people are employed within the UK. The majority of the
company's R&D and manufacturing is carried out in the UK and for the year ended June 2015
Renishaw achieved sales of £494.7 million of which 95% was due to exports. The company's
largest markets are China, the USA, South Korea, Germany and Japan.