US Patent 7554880 Marine surveys

A method generates at least one route traversing a plurality of predetermined survey paths in a marine survey. The method includes generating a plurality of routes traversing a subset of the predetermined survey paths. The routes satisfy survey constraints such as run in and run out distances and minimum turn radius. Penalties are generated for the routes, including line change penalties, hazard penalties, streamer feather penalties, and penalties based on survey line priorities, total survey distance and duration, maintenance requirements, and the final location of the ship performing the survey. At least one of the routes is selected on the basis of the penalties.