Authors: Malzone, C.; Lockhart, D.; Meurling, T.; Baldwin, M.

Source: Underwater Technology: The International Journal of the Society for Underwater, Volume 27, Number 4, June 2008 , pp. 151-160(10)

Publisher: Society for Underwater Technology

Abstract:

The progression of hydrographic echo sounding has been driven by navigational, socioeconomic (EEZ, Law of the Sea, Offshore Oil/Gas) and research (habitat mapping, coastal erosion, etc) requirements. Since the first installation of a multibeam echo sounder (MBES) in 1963, the progression of the technology has provided a steady increase in the number of soundings, as well as increases in sampling rates, data volumes and system resolution. Recent improvements incorporate better signal-to-noise ratios, multiple frequencies, calibrated arrays and new signal processing functionality. These advancements, combined with parallel improvements in data acquisition methods and post-processing techniques, make the data more accurate, thus providing more reliable survey products.

MBES technology now makes use of all aspects of the inherent acoustics to provide additional data products, such as beam intensity, pseudo-sidescan, seafloor backscatter and raw time series backscatter. The latest generation of MBES now contains the processing power to log concurrently all datagrams with the same sampling and ping rates as the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Special Order bathymetry data (34.5kHz and 40Hz, respectively). The result has been the incorporation of multibeam derived products for multidisciplinary hydrographic-based applications, such as nautical charting, habitat mapping, fisheries biomass surveys and sediment transport studies.

This paper explores recent improvements in MBES systems in comparison with their older counterparts and discusses the effects these advancements will have on the future of multidisciplinary hydrographic-based applications in both shallow and deep waters.

Keywords: MULTIBEAM ECHO SOUNDER (MBES); SONAR SYSTEMS; BATHYMETRY DATA; MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS; HYDROGRAPHIC-BASED APPLICATIONS; FOOTPRINT TIME SERIES

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3723/ut.27.151

Publication date: 2008-06-01

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• Underwater Technology is the peer-reviewed international journal of the Society for Underwater Technology. The objectives of the journal are to inform and acquaint the Society's members and other readers with current views and new developments in the broad areas of underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering.
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