26-58124 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)-Deployable Integrated Topographic and Bathymetric (Topo-Bathymetric) LiDAR System
Solicitation Closes at 02 :00 PM on 26 October 2026 Time Zone EDT
RETURN BIDS TO: N••••••••@••••••••.••.ca
Statement of Requirement
Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)-Deployable Integrated Topographic and
Bathymetric (Topo-Bathymetric) LiDAR System.
The National Research Council of Canada’s (NRC) Centre for Drone Innovation (CDI), part of the Drone and Flight Autonomy Laboratory (DFAL), requires one (1) integrated topo bathymetric LiDAR system deployable from NRC’s medium class Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) to support research, development, testing, method validation, and operational deployments. The system must capture above water topography and shallow water bathymetry within a single factory integrated payload and deliver survey grade outputs through a manufacturer supported hydrographic processing workflow.
BACKGROUND:
LiDAR is used to generate high accuracy topographic data and digital elevation models by measuring precise distances between a sensor and target surfaces. Conventional topographic LiDAR typically operates at near infrared wavelengths that do not penetrate water, so surveys end at the water surface. To characterize shorelines and other shallow water features within a single survey, a topo bathymetric capability is required to detect both the water surface and submerged bottom under suitable conditions.
To support dual use applications such as shoreline mapping, shallow water target detection, wildfire resource assessment, infrastructure inspection, emergency response, and evaluation of potential autonomous landing sites, the Remote Sensing Imaging Group (RSIG) within the Drone and Flight Autonomy Laboratory (DFAL) requires an integrated topo bathymetric LiDAR system deployable from NRC’s medium class RPAS. RSIG, with support from NRC’s Design and Fabrication Department and the Flight Research Laboratory Instrumentation Group, will integrate the system on NRC platforms. Given the field based, survey grade nature of the work, dependable vendor support, training, and documentation are required to maintain operational readiness and minimize downtime, reduce technical risk, and maintain continuity of operations.
1.0 Requirement:
Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)-deployable integrated topographic and bathymetric (topo-bathymetric) LiDAR system (the system), quantity one (1)
Specifications: The system must:
1.1 Integrated topo-bathymetric capability -collect both topographic and
bathymetric LiDAR data using a single integrated payload
1.2 Bathymetric green laser -use a green laser wavelength (532 nm) providing both terrestrial measurements and water-surface and sub-aqueous bottom returns.
1.3 Unconditional full-waveform recording -record the full return waveform unconditionally for every emitted laser pulse, so that weak submerged-bottom echoes can be recovered, averaged, and reprocessed rather than being permanently lost when they fall below a real-time detection threshold
1.4 Measurement rate and multi-target capability -provide user-selectable measurement rates of up to at least 200 kHz, record at least 15 target returns per emitted pulse, and provide 16-bit intensity information.
1.5 Selectable beam divergence -provide user-selectable laser-beam divergence, adjustable over a range of at least 1 mrad to 6 mrad, so that acquisition can be optimized for different flight altitudes, water clarity, and turbidity conditions.
1.6 Water penetration -be capable of penetrating a minimum of 2 m of clear water under zero-turbidity conditions.
1.7 Scanning field of view - provide an effective scanning field of view of at least 40 degrees perpendicular to the flight direction, equivalent to an off-nadir scan angle of at least 20 degrees, suitable for RPAS topo-bathymetric mapping.
1.8 Integrated survey-grade GNSS/INS - include a fully integrated Global Navigation Satellite System / Inertial Navigation System (GNSS/INS) providing, after post-processing, horizontal position accuracy of 5 cm or better, vertical position accuracy of 10 cm or better, roll and pitch accuracy of 0.02 degrees or better, and heading accuracy of 0.05 degrees or better. The GNSS/INS must be compatible with NRC’s existing Applanix POSPac trajectory post-processing workflow and must be supplied with the required post-processing software licence.
1.9 Integrated RGB camera - include an integrated, co-aligned RGB camera with a minimum resolution of 20 megapixels, supporting co-registration of the LiDAR data with true-colour imagery for draped surface products, structure-from-motion applications, and three-dimensional surface visualization
1.10 Onboard data storage - include internal solid-state data storage and support removable storage media.
1.11 Environmental protection - be suitable for outdoor field operations and provide protection against dust and environmental moisture appropriate for RPAS-based operations, with an ingress protection rating of at least IP64.
1.12 Operating environment - be suitable for operation in Canadian outdoor field conditions, including ambient temperatures below freezing down to -10 °C, and withstand storage and transportation at temperatures down to -20 °C.
1.13 Hydrographic processing software - include manufacturer-supported software covering the complete RPAS-based topo-bathymetric workflow, including: mission planning; system operation and data acquisition; data download and management; inertial data processing; kinematic LiDAR data processing; system calibration; water-surface modelling; correction of underwater measurements for refraction and light-travel time; full-waveform bathymetric analysis; RGB image processing; rigorous data adjustment; quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC); and export of processed data products to commonly used formats, including LAS.
1.14 Calibration - be delivered with system boresight calibration and digital camera calibration completed, together with the applicable calibration documentation for the integrated sensing components.
1.15 Technical Documentation - provide a comprehensive technical manual, including diagrams and/or procedures for troubleshooting and performing basic maintenance tasks.
1.16 RPAS compatibility The complete sensor payload must be suitable for deployment on medium-class RPAS, must have a total payload weight not exceeding 12 kg, and must be capable of integration on NRC’s medium-class RPAS through appropriate mechanical, electrical, and communications interfaces, and must operate from a DC power supply of 18–34 VDC.
1.17 Manufacturer repairs All repairs and recalibration must be performed at the manufacturer’s facility or by a manufacturer-authorized service provider, with documentation provided following each repair or recalibration.
2.0 Training:
The Contractor must provide comprehensive RPAS-based topo-bathymetric operations and workflow training for up to four (4) NRC personnel covering, at minimum:
- mission planning;
- system operation and data acquisition;
- operational best practices;
- data download;
- inertial data processing;
- refraction correction;
- LiDAR and image data processing;
- full-waveform bathymetric analysis;
- data quality assurance and
- quality control (QA/QC); and export of processed data products.
The location of the training to be determined following integration of the system on an NRC RPAS.
3.0 Warranty and Support:
3.1 Warranty The system and all supplied hardware must include a minimum twelve (12) month manufacturer’s warranty covering material and manufacturing defects and operation within the manufacturer’s specifications, commencing upon acceptance of the goods. The warranty must include access to interim software releases and version updates issued during the warranty period. During the warranty period, the Contractor must provide ongoing technical support, including phone and email assistance, to troubleshoot data acquisition, maintenance, and processing issues.
3.2 Routine Hardware Maintenance The Contractor must provide a maintenance schedule outlining recommended routine inspections and servicing for the system. This should include tasks such as cleaning, calibration, and alignment checks. The Contractor must ensure that any required parts or components for routine maintenance are available for purchase during the warranty period.
3.3 Hardware Support The Contractor must provide hardware support for the system throughout the warranty period.
This must include:
- Replacement parts for defective or worn-out components.
- Assistance in troubleshooting and repairing any hardware malfunctions, with repairs performed at the manufacturer’s facility or by a manufacturer-authorized service provider in accordance with the Requirements section.
- Access to a dedicated technical support team for hardware, firmware and software-related issues.
4.0 Delivery Address:
The system must be delivered to:
NRC-DFAL, 1920 Research Private, Building U-61, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 2B1
The complete system must be delivered within twelve (12) weeks of contract award, or on a date mutually agreed with the Project Authority.
