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Cable Route Desktop Study
Route screening, constraint mapping and survey scoping for subsea cable projects, completed before vessels mobilise.
CPHS Level 1 certified lead | ISO 9001 | 14001 | 45001 | Australia, APAC, GCC, Egypt
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Cable route overview / corridor map
Make the route decision before the survey spend
A cable route is cheapest to change on paper. A desktop study uses data that already exists to narrow the options, expose hazards early and identify the questions a subsequent survey should resolve.
QOffshore’s hydrographic, geophysical and subsea cable specialists develop the study so its findings can inform subsequent survey planning, specifications, technical assurance and engineering where separately required.
What Your Desktop Study Delivers
- Desktop Study report, with provisional and final versions and a client review cycle where agreed
- Route alternatives, recommended corridor and RPL refinements where suitable baseline data are supplied
- GIS and CAD constraint maps
- Straight Line Diagrams (SLDs), GIS shapefiles and KMZ files, where agreed and permitted by data licences
- Constraint and risk register
- Indicative permitting matrix and approval pathways, where relevant to the project
- Data gap register and survey scope
- Early cost and schedule drivers
A desktop study screens and prioritises. It cannot verify soil strength or that a route is clear, and the report says so. It does not replace field verification, permits, detailed cable installation design or a standalone quantitative burial risk assessment.
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Route constraint map / GIS deliverables
Scope your cable route desktop study
Send the route location, approximate length, cable type, project stage, programme and a summary of available survey data. Please include any existing RPL/GIS files, proposed landfalls and known route constraints where available.
Cable Route and Landfall Constraints We Assess
Seabed and ground
Bathymetry, slopes, sandwaves, soft sediment, hardground and shallow rock, with data coverage, age and datum checked. Geological and geohazard records, including seismic and volcanic activity, are reviewed where relevant.
Shipping, anchoring and fishing
AIS tracks, anchorages, fishing activity and FAD moorings, with the limits of AIS stated openly.
Infrastructure and crossings
Existing cables, pipelines and debris, and the crossings each route option would need.
Environmental and regulatory
Protected areas, marine users, landowners and permitting, identified early to reduce delay. Indicative approvals, responsible authorities and permitting dependencies are identified at desktop level.
Landfall and nearshore
Shore approaches, shallow-water access, tides and installation constraints. Beach Manhole (BMH) interfaces, shore access, onshore utilities and potential HDD or alternative landing concepts are screened where relevant.
Metocean and coastal exposure
Available currents, waves, tides and extreme-event information, where relevant to route and installation planning.
Data gaps
Everything the existing data cannot answer, converted into a targeted survey scope.
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DTS, BAS and CBRA planning workflow
How DTS, BAS and CBRA fit together
A Desktop Study (DTS) screens route and landfall constraints and sets investigation priorities. A Burial Assessment Study (BAS) assesses burial feasibility and likely burial methods. A Cable Burial Risk Assessment (CBRA) assesses external threats and the protection needed. A DTS is generally an early planning activity and may be commissioned alone or alongside separately scoped BAS and CBRA services as the project develops.
Where appropriate, our DTS methodology follows ICPC Recommendation No. 9, proportionate to the project stage, available datasets and agreed scope.
Our Cable Route Desktop Study Process
1. Define the basis
Cable type, endpoints, stage and the decisions the study must support.
2. Review the data
Check coverage, resolution and datum. Record every gap. Check source dates, data licensing and reliability.
3. Compare routes
GIS constraint model, corridors, crossings and indicative burial feasibility. Review baseline Route Position Lists (RPLs) and GIS/KML alignments; identify justified route refinements.
4. Recommend and scope
Recommended corridor where supported by the evidence, risks and a survey scope for the real unknowns.
Common Questions
Does a desktop study replace a route survey?
No. It screens routes and defines what the survey must measure, helping focus acquisition on the most relevant evidence gaps.
What data do you need from us?
Route or corridor alignment, cable details, any bathymetry, sonar, sub-bottom or CPT data, vessel and fishing information, and permit requirements. Incomplete data still supports an initial review. Editable RPL/GIS files and indicative landing or BMH locations are useful when available.
How long does it take?
It depends on route length, number of options and data quality. We confirm the programme after reviewing what you hold.
Do you work outside Australia?
Yes. QOffshore supports remotely delivered desktop studies for projects in Australia, APAC, the GCC and other international regions, subject to data availability and local requirements.
Scope your cable route desktop study
Send the route location, approximate length, cable type, project stage, programme and a summary of available survey data. Please include any existing RPL/GIS files, proposed landfalls and known route constraints where available.
