SPH Engineering launches UAV-compatible MBES for shallow-water surveys
SPH Engineering has unveiled a new multibeam echosounder (MBES) payload for UAVs, expanding the reach of drone-based hydrographic and bathymetric surveys. Built around the Cerulean Surveyor 240-16, the system is designed to deliver dense, high-resolution bathymetric data in shallow waters such as inland waterways, reservoirs, ports and environmental monitoring sites. According to the company, the philosophy behind the new MBES payload is to address the needs of the hydrographic and geophysical community, with particular emphasis on innovative survey approaches in inland and coastal settings.
Operating at 240kHz with a measurement range of 0.5 to 50 metres, the Surveyor 240-16 marks a departure from single-beam payloads by producing a swath of up to 80° cross-track. Its 16-element receive array and angular resolution of 1° enable wide bottom coverage per flight line, boosting efficiency and data richness.
The new payload integrates with SPH Engineering’s UgCS flight planning software and SkyHub onboard computer, allowing automated and precise survey missions. With a total weight of 2.4 kilograms and power consumption of just 15 watts, it is compatible with UAV platforms, including DJI’s M300, M350 and M400, as well as Inspired Flight’s IF800 and IF1200.
From lab to lake
Field tests were carried out in August 2025 at Titutga Lake in Latvia, where the MBES demonstrated reliable performance at an average survey speed of 1.2 metres per second – a balance found to optimize data density while preserving UAV endurance. Results showed high-resolution bottom details, with validation against single-beam payloads underscoring the complementary role of both systems. The campaign highlighted how drone-based hydrography can deliver high-resolution mapping and robust data validation in areas previously inaccessible or unsafe for boat-based surveys.
Technical edge and industry impact
The payload combines a 4° along-track transmit beam with a 7° cross-track receive beam, supported by angle-of-arrival processing that delivers 1° angular resolution. Range resolution is set at 0.5% of the selected range. Integrated tilt/roll and temperature sensors provide additional data quality assurance, while compatibility with BeamworX software – and planned integration with Hydromagic – ensures streamlined workflows for operators.
“The payload based on Cerulean Surveyor 240-16 represents a milestone in drone-based bathymetry,” said Alexey Dobrovolskiy, CEO of SPH Engineering. “By combining multibeam technology with UAV platforms, we are enabling hydrographers to collect dense bathymetric datasets at a fraction of the time and cost of conventional systems. This integration opens new opportunities for surveying reservoirs, lakes and coastal areas that were previously inaccessible or unsafe.”
With the release of the Surveyor 240-16 payload, SPH Engineering is positioning itself at the forefront of UAV-based hydrography, providing surveyors with tools that not only increase efficiency but also expand the possibilities of data collection in complex environments.
