References
Berlin waterways
Project Data
Client
Public infrastructure operator
Surveyed Structure
Waterway section
Project Period
2025 – 2026
Project Scope
Survey of approx. 20 km of waterway, covering around 45 km of shoreline and hydraulic structures
Scope of Services
Hydrographic underwater survey
Underwater 3D scanning
Terrestrial laser scanning
Setup of a digital twin in the InfraCloud
Structured annotation and evaluation of the structures
Provision of a unified database for all project stakeholders
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Introduction
Berlin's waterways are key components of the urban infrastructure, shaping the cityscape just as much as they support the logistic and hydraulic functions of the capital. Along the Spree-Oder Waterway, numerous shoreline and port structures represent successive generations of engineering. These assets have grown over decades and are continuously exposed to demanding operating conditions and environmental loads.
To enable sustainable assessment, planning, and maintenance of this infrastructure, a continuous digital survey of the existing assets was required. Commissioned by a public infrastructure operator, HydroMapper surveyed about 20 kilometers of waterway, covering approximately 45 kilometers of shoreline and hydraulic structures along the Spree-Oder Waterway in the Berlin region.
The operations were conducted under ongoing vessel traffic and in part challenging surveying conditions. The objective of the project was to establish a consistent, digital data foundation for structural health inspections, operations, design, and long-term asset management.
Initial Situation
The structural assets to be surveyed comprised a wide variety of designs and construction eras — ranging from quay walls and embankment reinforcements to complex transition zones between the structures and the riverbed.
The survey took place under real operating conditions with active vessel traffic. Restricted underwater visibility, sediment accumulation, and complex structural geometries placed high demands on the data acquisition process.
At the same time, the objective was to deliver a seamless, high-confidence dataset suitable for structural inspections as well as future engineering design, operations, and maintenance workflows. A consistent, georeferenced survey of all asset areas was particularly critical given the extensive length of the infrastructure sections.
Our Approach
HydroMapper combined multiple surveying techniques into an integrated digital workflow to completely and consistently capture the infrastructure along the Berlin waterways.
The methodology deployed hydrographic survey systems utilizing multibeam sonar, high-resolution underwater 3D scanning, and terrestrial laser scanning above the waterline. Integrating these sensors allowed for the generation of a seamless, georeferenced dataset spanning both above and below the water surface.
The survey data was processed and merged directly into a unified digital model. Despite the challenging environmental constraints, data acquisition was executed highly efficiently — achieving a daily rate of approximately 1,500 meters of shoreline structure analyzed.
From Asset to Digital Representaton
The field surveys provided a high-resolution digital data foundation for the subsequent analysis and assessment of the waterway structures.
Deliverables included georeferenced point clouds, digital terrain models, cross-sections, and structured asset databases. Merging all sensor data yielded a comprehensive digital representation of the infrastructure above and below water.
The resulting digital models enable a consistent analysis of extensive infrastructure networks and provide a robust framework for engineering analysis, condition assessment, and future structural interventions.
The Basis for Informed Decisions
The digital asset documentation provides a reliable basis for the sustainable assessment and ongoing development of the infrastructure network along the Berlin waterways.
Based on the high-resolution datasets, structural conditions can be precisely evaluated, structural analyses performed, and targeted maintenance plans drafted. Simultaneously, the consistent digital documentation significantly improves the macroscopic overview of extensive infrastructure corridors and their current operating status.
This streamlines planning and decision-making workflows for the operator, creating a valuable asset-management foundation for the hydraulic infrastructure over its life cycle.
Outlook and Future Application
The captured data serves as the foundation for the continuous development and digital management of the infrastructure assets along the Berlin waterways.
The generated datasets can be integrated into existing asset management systems, updated continuously, and leveraged for subsequent structural inspections, monitoring campaigns, and deeper engineering studies. Furthermore, the creation of a digital twin establishes the technical prerequisite for long-term, data-driven planning and maintenance strategies.
This provides a future-proof foundation for the sustainable operation and continuous evolution of Berlin's hydraulic engineering infrastructure.
