Cable and pipeline inspections cover a broad range of operations including telecommunication cables, power cables and power cables from offshore energy generation as well as feeder and export pipelines for oil and gas.

These types of inspection have three segments;
1) pre-lay assessment of route,
2) installation surveying to verify adherence to requirements and
3) post-lay checking for movement, damage or wear.

Installation surveying can be separated into two parts

a) immediate surveying ahead of the lay vessel to ensure that conditions remain the same as during planning. The AUV will conduct a survey mission using a priori data where the AUV in real time will compare the data sets. Deviations can be marked and immediately resurveyed for possible change to the route plan – this is particularly important in area of high geological activity and

b) surveying the installation at a stand-off distance of perhaps 2 km from the lay vessel the survey can yield data of burial depth etc. Furthermore, for pipe and cable surface lay data can be used for conduct better rock dumping or concrete carper lay operations.