What AquaCoustic Remote Technologies does

AquaCoustic Remote Technologies Inc. is a Vancouver, Canada-based specialist infrastructure inspection services company founded in 1993 by Michael Blackshaw. The firm provides above- and below-water integrated sensor survey services for critical infrastructure assets including dams and reservoirs, wastewater and drainage systems, river crossings and bridge abutments, ports and marinas, mining stopes and tailings ponds, and shafts and boreholes. Its customer base spans civil engineering firms, government departments and municipalities, construction companies, pipe rehabilitation contractors, and private infrastructure asset owners across North America and Asia.

The company's core technology consists of custom-built, in-house designed robotic platforms and proprietary software that integrate multiple sensor modalities — sonar (including scanning, profiling, and stationary 3D variants), Time of Flight laser / LiDAR, 1080p marine CCTV cameras, gas and temperature sensors, and RTK GPS — into unified inspection workflows. Notable proprietary capabilities include borehole sonar systems that profile through drilling mud via 6-inch openings down to 1,000+ feet, through-ice stationary 3D sonar with 2mm resolution, 2,000ft robotic tractor platforms for large diameter pipe inspection, and manhole scanning units delivering CAD-ready XYZ point cloud data. Performance metrics include better than 1 inch borehole accuracy, 3mm ToF laser accuracy at 25m, and 2cm RTK GPS elevation accuracy.

AquaCoustic generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts (quote-based per-project pricing for survey and inspection deliverables) and a North American equipment rental program providing trained operators with the company's custom hardware. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting municipalities, engineering firms, and infrastructure owners, supported by direct consultation booking, technical publications in industry journals, and conference participation. The firm is privately held, founder-led, with 11–50 employees and no disclosed institutional investment, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

AquaCoustic Remote Technologies

Legal name

AquaCoustic Remote Technologies Inc.

Website

https://aquacoustic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AquaCoustic Remote Technologies provides integrated multi-sensor survey services combining sonar, LiDAR, laser, and CCTV technologies for above and below-water infrastructure inspection. It serves civil engineering firms, municipalities, construction firms, pipe rehabilitation contractors, and private infrastructure asset owners across North America and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Infrastructure Inspection Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Underwater Robotics (USVs/UUVs) (HDAAAIAH), Remote Sensing & Geospatial Vision (satellite/drone imagery) (HDAAAEAL), Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI)

Keywords

• Infrastructure inspection services
• Underwater survey services
• Robotic inspection platforms
• Sonar and LiDAR surveys
• Geomatics data processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Infrastructure Inspection Survey Services: Project-based professional services for above and below-water infrastructure surveys including dams, reservoirs, wastewater systems, river crossings, ports, mines, and boreholes. Revenue generated through service contracts with engineering firms, government agencies, and private asset owners.
2. Equipment Rentals with Operator: Survey equipment rental services including 2,000ft 4-wheel drive tractors, 1080p cameras, pontoon floats, winches, ROVs, and amphibious ATVs with trained operators. Equipment deployed with client personnel and data processed/delivered by AquaCoustic.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AquaCoustic Remote Technologies provides above and below-water infrastructure inspection and survey services for civil engineering firms, government departments, construction companies, pipe rehabilitation contractors, and private infrastructure asset owners. The company deploys proprietary integrated multi-sensor robotic platforms combining 3D sonar, Time of Flight laser, LiDAR, CCTV, gas and temperature sensors, and RTK GPS to inspect dams, reservoirs, wastewater systems, river crossings, ports, marinas, mines, and boreholes. Service offerings are supplemented by equipment rentals with operators and in-house geomatics data processing that delivers CAD-ready XYZ point cloud data, 3D models, and engineering reports.

Product overview

AquaCoustic Remote Technologies offers integrated sensor survey services for critical infrastructure inspection across six core service areas: Dams & Reservoirs, Wastewater & Drainage, River Crossings & Bridge Abutments, Ports & Marinas, Mining Surveys, and Shafts & Boreholes. The company has developed proprietary technology platforms combining sonar, Time of Flight laser (LiDAR), CCTV video, gas/temperature sensors, and robotic platforms into unified inspection systems. Survey equipment rentals with operators are available, and the company provides Geomatics data processing and Traffic Management Plan support as supplementary services. All deliverables are provided as CAD-ready XYZ point cloud data suitable for integration into standard engineering software programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dams & Reservoirs Survey Services Comprehensive above and below-water survey services for dams and reservoirs using scanning sonar, boat-mounted profiling sonar, 3D sonar/laser systems, video cameras, and inspection-class ROVs to assess dam faces, spillways, tunnels, rock traps, and inundation zones. Delivered to engineering firms, government departments, and private asset owners requiring predictive asset management data.
• Wastewater & Drainage Survey Services Integrated sensor inspection services for underground sewer and drainage infrastructure, combining CCTV, sonar, and Time of Flight laser technologies for large diameter pipes from 18 inches and up, with capabilities for manholes, siphons, culverts, and outfalls. Delivered to municipalities and engineering firms for asset management and rehabilitation planning.
• River Crossings & Bridge Abutments Survey Services Pipeline and cable crossing surveys at river and water body intersections, including bathymetric surveys, sub-bottom profiling, side-scan sonar, scour analysis, and ROV inspections to assess pipe exposure, burial depth, and structural risks. Provided to engineering firms, government departments, and utility owners.
• Ports & Marina Survey Services Underwater and above-water survey services for port facilities, berths, wharves, and marina infrastructure using 3D sonar and laser systems to measure scour, dock faces, caisson undermining, and shoreline conditions with better than 2 cm accuracy. Delivered to port authorities, government agencies, and private infrastructure owners.
• Mining Survey Services Specialized borehole sonar surveys for flooded mine stopes, tailings ponds, and underground mining infrastructure, with capabilities to profile through drilling mud at depths up to 1,000 feet through 6-inch diameter boreholes. Delivered to mining operators and engineering firms for resource evaluation and safety assessment.
• Shafts & Borehole Survey Services In-house designed borehole sonar systems deployed through 6-inch minimum diameter openings for depths up to 3,000 feet, producing underwater 3D point clouds with approximately 2 cm accuracy for vertical shaft and borehole inspection. Delivered to mining, geological, and infrastructure clients requiring downhole profiling.
• Geomatics Services Spatially referenced data gathering, processing, and visualization services using remote sensors including lasers and sonar scanners combined with computer programs for infrastructure risk assessment, slope stability monitoring, flood risk identification, and 3D modeling. Delivered to engineering firms and infrastructure owners as supplementary data processing and analytics support.
• Traffic Management Plan (TMP) Support Temporary traffic management plan support for construction inspections affecting public roads, including traffic layouts and controls aligned with municipal and roadway authority standards across Canada. Provided as a supplementary service to inspection projects requiring roadway access.
• Survey Equipment Rentals Rental of integrated sensor survey equipment with operators, including 2,000 ft 4-wheel drive skid steer tractors, 1080p cameras, pontoon floats, electric winches up to 6,000 ft, inspection ROVs, and purpose-built pipe ROVs. Provided to clients across North America on a project basis with trained operators.
• Large Diameter Pipe Inspection Services Integrated multi-sensor inspection technology for large diameter pipes combining 1080p marine cameras, Time of Flight lasers (15Hz, 50cm-25m range, 10mm accuracy), digital profiling sonars, 3D sonar systems, and RTK GPS for above and below-water CAD-ready data collection. Delivered to municipalities and pipe rehabilitation contractors.
• Stationary 3D Sonar Survey System Portable 3D sonar system deployed through ice or from fixed structures for high-precision underwater surface mapping, sinkhole detection, and infrastructure monitoring with up to 120-meter range and 2mm resolution at close range. Deployed across dams, reservoirs, and other submerged assets where through-ice or stationary survey methods are required.
• Time of Flight Laser Profiling System Line-of-sight laser measurement instruments for above-water pipe profiling with 3mm-8mm accuracy across 25m range, detecting cracks, water infiltration, and surface conditions independent of ambient lighting. Provided as part of integrated wastewater and drainage survey services to engineering firms and municipalities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Better than 1 inch accuracy for borehole surveys
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WSP Global: Major engineering consulting firm offering water, wastewater, and infrastructure services to municipalities and asset owners. Competes for the same engineering-firm and government-client budgets, often bundling inspection with design and program management.
• AECOM: Large infrastructure consulting firm providing water, transportation, and environmental services, including condition assessment of dams, ports, and water systems. Competes for end-to-end infrastructure programs that include inspection scopes.
• Teledyne Marine: Division of Teledyne Technologies providing sonar, imaging, and underwater sensing systems used for hydrographic survey, dredging, and infrastructure inspection. Overlaps with AquaCoustic's core sensor-integration and sonar/LiDAR capabilities at component level.
• Stantec: Global engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with deep water and infrastructure practices serving municipalities and private asset owners — directly comparable customer base and adjacent inspection/assessment capabilities.
• Fugro: Global geotechnical and survey services firm that performs hydrographic, geophysical, and underwater infrastructure surveys for ports, dams, and offshore assets. Overlaps with AquaCoustic's bathymetric, sonar, and infrastructure-survey capabilities at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Envirosight: Provider of sewer and wastewater inspection crawler systems, cameras, and software. Competes for the same municipal wastewater inspection budgets and serves engineering and contractor customers with similar pipe-assessment workflows.
• ROVCO: UK-based subsea inspection company using ROVs and AI-driven computer vision for underwater infrastructure surveys (pipelines, offshore structures, ports). Closely comparable in the use of integrated sensing for asset inspection, focused on offshore and marine assets.
• Aries Industries: US manufacturer and service provider of sewer, storm, and wastewater pipe inspection equipment and vehicles. Direct overlap in large-diameter pipe inspection and CCTV/sonar data delivery to municipalities and pipe rehabilitation contractors.
• CUES (Elgin): Established manufacturer of pipeline inspection equipment, CCTV systems, and software for wastewater/stormwater utilities. Comparable in serving municipal sewer inspection markets with integrated camera and sensor solutions.

Emerging players

• Deep Trekker: Manufacturer of commercial-grade underwater ROVs and crawlers used for inspection of potable water reservoirs, sewers, dams, and search/recovery. Comparable in delivering robotic underwater inspection technology to similar utility and infrastructure customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGmo4q6WgNHTzK9hu6S99jg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquacoustic-remote-technologies-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AquaCoustic Remote Technologies