3D Profiling Sonar for KIOST

Marine Electronics Ltd, based in Guernsey, UK, has supplied a 2001 3D Profiling Sonar System to Korea Institute for Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST). The 3D Profiling Sonar System enables the capture of short-range 3D bathymetry data at high resolution and is likely to prove invaluable for some of KOIST's coastal research projects. The acoustic transducer scans a horizontal swath and is then rotated by a small angle before another swath is captured, and so on until a complete circular area underneath the sonar dome is covered.

The images generated enable sand and silt movement to be seen clearly so that the effects of current action on the seabed can be observed in detail. This capability is particularly valuable for monitoring the effects of water movement around bridge piers or the base of wind turbines.

Weeks or Months Deployment

The underwater housing is typically mounted on a sub-sea framework or pole and deployed for several weeks or months. Internal scheduling software wakes the system from a low power sleep mode to capture data periodically. For surveys in tidal waters a ‘wet-switch’ may be specified so that the sonar only captures data when it is immersed.

KIOST is undertaking a survey and study of Korea's seas and open oceans. It is also active in the polar regions where it supports other government, educational and commercial organisations in the development of marine resources and the protection of the ocean environment. Currently, KIOST also has several projects studying the development of deep seabed mineral resources in the South Pacific.