Award Shines Light on Geo-Data for Offshore Wind Development

Global Geo-data specialist Fugro has been commended for their contribution to offshore wind technology, specifically in the development of a centralized, cloud-hosted Geo-data management and engagement platform called Gaia.Hub.

Last quarter, the Business Network for Offshore Wind presented Fugro with a Ventus award for “Advancement in Project Siting and Development” based on the company’s work to implement Gaia.Hub to support the US-based Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind development project. 

Online since April 2021, the solution has allowed Atlantic Shores’ internal and external teams shared access to authoritative project Geo-data, facilitating faster decision-making and accelerated timelines on critical milestones. Atlantic Shores is also using the solution to support regulatory reporting requirements, including the January 2022 submission of their Construction and Operations Plan submission to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. An industry first, this digital deliverables approach will help advance multiple industry goals, including faster regulatory review, increased transparency and improved public trust.

“Data management is a critical factor for all developers and industry stakeholders. Fugro’s Gaia.Hub platform is a valuable tool that has the potential to be used by many in the industry to improve permitting, making geo-data easier to access and more transparent,” said Liz Burdock, President and CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind.

Gaia.Hub technology is one of many technologies Fugro is using to support the energy transition. It follows the development and deployment of Fugro’s first set of Gaia-branded products, which were launched in 2018 to deliver geotechnical, geological and structural insights through the integration of site investigation, real-time geotechnical and structural monitoring IoT and third-party data. 

Following the Ventus award, Andrew Cooper, Offshore Wind Lead for Fugro in the Americas, spoke in appreciation of Fugro’s partnership with Atlantic Shores on the project, “Their collaboration on the implementation of this platform was instrumental to ensuring a tailored solution that will support not only project siting and development, but can also carry through to construction, operations and maintenance. We look forward to earning the opportunity to apply Gaia.Hub to these subsequent phases and, in the meantime, we applaud their commitment to sustainability and innovation as they move the energy transition forward.”

Fugro is the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, collecting and analyzing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Adopting an integrated approach that incorporates acquisition and analysis of Geo-data and related advice, Fugro provides solutions. With expertise in site characterization and asset integrity, clients are supported in the safe, sustainable and efficient design, construction and operation of their assets throughout the full lifecycle.