Kahuto Pacific’s new Moana Data Services (MDS) is poised to ease longstanding challenges for landowners, developers, and researchers across Fiji by providing locally captured, high-resolution aerial data—including LiDAR—at national scale. The service, unveiled with support from the Asian Development Bank, uses a customized aircraft equipped with advanced imaging systems to deliver live, decision-ready geospatial information.
University of the South Pacific Land Management academic Dr. Joeli Varo said the arrival of locally available LiDAR and live aerial data will remove a costly barrier for scholars and students who have struggled to access this technology offshore. He noted that reliable, precise data on geology, soil classification, topography, and forestry helps landowners understand the value and potential of their land, enabling better planning and responsible development.
Beyond academia and land tenure, MDS is designed to support town planners, government agencies, and infrastructure developers with timely information critical for climate-resilient decision-making. LiDAR’s ability to map terrain with fine detail is particularly valuable for flood modeling—an urgent need in Fiji—helping identify safer alignments for roads, settlements, and essential services. The platform’s local ownership and management also mean faster turnaround and greater data sovereignty for Fijian users.
The initiative is backed by an Asian Development Bank investment of $458,000 and includes plans to collaborate with government ministries, landowners, and development partners so that communities can capture, manage, and apply their own live aerial data efficiently. The move aligns with a broader national push to modernize land and resource management, complementing recent advances such as the adoption of LiDAR-capable surveying drones by local institutions and the rollout of modern GNSS and airborne surveys to improve mapping accuracy and resource planning.
Additional comments and context:
– Why this matters: Live, high-precision geospatial data cuts weeks or months from survey timelines, reduces reliance on overseas providers, and improves the quality of decisions in land use, agriculture, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure design.
– Practical impacts: Local access to LiDAR and high-resolution imagery can improve flood risk assessments, erosion mapping, watershed and forestry management, agricultural planning, and environmental monitoring—areas where precise elevation and land-cover data are essential.
– Capacity building: With data collection and processing now available in-country, students and professionals can build skills locally, strengthening Fiji’s technical workforce and research output while lowering costs for communities and developers.
Summary:
– Kahuto Pacific launched Moana Data Services to provide live, high-resolution aerial data and LiDAR locally across Fiji.
– The service will help landowners, developers, and researchers plan and value land resources more accurately, including geology, soils, topography, and forestry.
– It is supported by $458,000 from the Asian Development Bank and aims to bolster climate-resilient planning, including better flood modeling and infrastructure siting.
– Local ownership and collaboration with ministries and landowners are expected to accelerate decision-making and build long-term technical capacity in Fiji.
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