PinPoint Positioning System
High-precision 2D and 3D tracking of aquatic animals for deep insight into aquatic movement and behaviour.
See the underwater world in unprecedented detail
PinPoint lets you follow the fine-scale movements of aquatic animals with unmatched accuracy. By turning complex positioning technology into clear, actionable insight, you can understand behaviour, migration patterns, and habitat use in ways that were previously impossible. Whether you’re protecting ecosystems, optimising aquaculture operations, or studying marine species in detail, PinPoint brings the hidden world beneath the surface into focus.
Key Advantages
Precise Tracking
Follow animals in 2D or 3D with accuracy measured in meters, not tens of meters.
Actionable Insight
Transform raw positioning data into clear patterns and trends you can act on.
Broad Applications
Equally effective for scientific research, aquaculture management, and environmental monitoring.
Expert Support
From deployment planning to final analysis, we work with you every step of the way.
Designed for your environment
PinPoint receivers are deployed in a grid across your study or monitoring area. We guide you through site assessment, trial deployment, and full-scale installation to ensure optimal coverage and accuracy. The system works in rivers, lakes, fjords, or open sea, and wherever you need fine-scale aquatic tracking.
How it works
PinPoint is based on Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), or multilateration, where the position of a transmitter is calculated from the known positions of receivers and the differences in signal arrival times. When depth sensors are used, vertical positioning is added, enabling 3D reconstruction of movement paths.
Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA)
Calculates position from the difference in acoustic signal arrival times at multiple receivers with millisecond precision.
Environmental Calibration
Integrated temperature sensors in receivers adjust for sound speed variability to maintain accuracy.
Depth-Enhanced Tracking
Konfigurerbare sendere med trykksensor muliggjør 3D-posisjonering og øker den horisontale presisjonen.
Example of PinPoint output data visualized
King crabs, an invasive species turning the sea floor into an uninhabitable desert in Northern Norway and Russia, has become a profitable resource for fishermen up north. In a fjord in Northern Norway, 70 king crabs were tagged over two years in order to monitor their exact movements, resulting in a strategy for optimized king crab fishing. The video shows the movements of the tagged king crabs
Get Started
We support your study from array design to final analysis, ensuring your positional data meets research-grade quality standards.
Project Design
Determine optimal receiver spacing and coverage.
Deployment & logging
Install receivers, run trial deployments, and log data over study period.
Analysis & Insight
We process your data into a clear report containing positional data, accuracy assessments, and generate detailed movement reports.
Examples of Use
In a fjord in Northern Norway, 70 king crabs were tagged over two years in order to monitor their exact movements, resulting in a strategy for optimized king crab fishing. In another study, crayfish were tagged with acoustic activity tags and positioned using PinPoint in order to investigate the effect of chemical treatments used to eradicate invasive species. Examples of other uses of the PinPoint positioning system include tracking of fish to help decide where to build fish passages, aquaculture, and monitoring subsea constructions and equipment.
Aquatic Animal Tracking
Related Components
PinPoint works with our high-performance receivers and acoustic transmitters for optimal results.
Configurable 6 - 16 mm Transmitters
Thelma Biotel transmitters are energy-efficient and versatile, designed for studies of aquatic species and underwater equipment. They come in five sizes: 6, 7, 9, 13, and 16 (based on diameter in mm). They can be tailored in length, power output, and battery life to fit your needs. They are used in wildlife tracking, aquaculture monitoring, and equipment monitoring. Whether you need an off-the-shelf solution or a tailor-made design, our transmitters can be configured for your exact requirements.
TBR 800
The TBR 800 is a robust, low-power digital acoustic receiver operating at 63–77 kHz. Used with Thelma Biotel transmitters, it supports customizable code sets. Paired with the DeckBox, it can send status updates on battery and power use.
TBR 800 Release
TBR 800 Release is a robust, low-power digital acoustic receiver operating at 63–77 kHz. Used with Thelma Biotel transmitters, it supports customizable code sets. It features an acoustic release module that can be triggered when paired with the DeckBox
TBR 800 Release Deep
The TBR 800 Release Deep features a motorized release three times stronger than the standard version, ensuring reliable operation under high pressure. The release is triggered acoustically from the DeckBox.
Get in touch
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