Boyne Greenway, Topographical Survey

Case Studies

Project Case Study

Boyne Greenway, Topographical & Bathymetric Survey Case Study

Client: Meath County Council
Location: Oldbridge House to Navan, Co. Meath
Project Length: 25 km Corridor
Services Provided: Topographical Survey, Bathymetric Survey, UAV Survey, Laser Scanning, Total Station & GNSS

 

Project Overview

The Boyne Greenway project required a comprehensive 25 km Topographical and Bathymetric land survey from Oldbridge House to Navan. The proposed route follows the River Boyne corridor and passes through a mix of rural, urban, and heritage-sensitive environments. Survey outputs were required to support feasibility, route selection, and detailed design of the greenway.

 

The Challenge

This project presented significant technical and logistical challenges:

  • Difficult and restricted access along the River Boyne corridor
  • Heavily vegetated and steep terrain near riverbanks
  • Survey works within sensitive heritage areas, including Newgrange and Slane Castle
  • Requirement for both land and riverbed (bathymetric) data
  • Multiple survey methodologies required across varied terrain and land ownership

 

Project solution

Our Project Solutions

Our Approach

A multi-method survey strategy was deployed to ensure full corridor coverage and high-quality data capture:

Conventional Topographical Survey (Land Survey):
Off-road areas were surveyed using GNSS and total station methods to capture terrain, features, boundaries, greenway extents, and thousands of trees across the corridor.

Laser Scanning & Static Total Station Survey:
Road crossings and infrastructure interfaces were surveyed using a combination of laser scanning and static total station techniques to capture detailed geometry and assets.

Bathymetric Survey (USV):
The River Boyne was surveyed using an Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) equipped with sonar to capture riverbed levels and channel geometry.

UAV Survey:
UAV surveys were undertaken over inaccessible private lands and difficult terrain to supplement ground data and provide visual context.

Project delivery

The Final Results

Key Deliverables

  • 2D and 3D AutoCAD topographical survey drawings (DWG)
  • Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and surface model
  • CSV point and feature datasets
  • Survey report and reference documentation

 

Accuracy & Quality Control

  • Hard Detail Accuracy: ±10 mm (X, Y, Z)
  • Soft Detail Accuracy: ±50 mm (X, Y, Z)

All survey data was captured, processed, and quality-controlled in accordance with project specifications to ensure reliable, design-ready outputs.

 

Results & Impact

“This was a technically demanding project across difficult terrain and sensitive heritage areas, delivered successfully by our experienced survey teams.”

Despite challenging terrain and access constraints, the project was delivered to programme, providing a comprehensive land and bathymetric dataset to support greenway design, environmental assessment, and planning.

 

Project Highlights

  • 25 km corridor topographical survey and bathymetric survey
  • Thousands of trees were surveyed across the corridor
  • Integrated GNSS, total station, laser scanning, UAV, and USV sonar methods
  • Survey through sensitive heritage and protected landscapes
  • Delivered high-quality datasets under challenging site conditions
  • Completed by experienced multidisciplinary survey teams

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“We have worked with IO Geomatics on several public works projects, and they delivered a professional service and good quality surveys each time. Their measured surveys of historic streetscapes were a great base for one of our conservation projects."
5-Star Review from John McLaughlin Architects Katia Papkovskaia
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