Sonar in Fisheries Research

A year round study on fish migration

Fisheries acoustics has its origin in the marine environment. Only with the development of small elliptical beams has it become possible to apply sonar in shallow freshwater. Since 1992 the Organisation for the Improvement of Inland Fisheries uses sonar for fisheries research, in The Netherlands. The mean application of sonar in freshwater is fish stock assessment by means of a mobile survey. In addition, sonar equipment can be applied at a fixed location to study fish migration. This gives information on the exact timing, direction and relative number of migrating fish over time. To be sure of the absolute number,... (read more)

2008-01-01 01:00:00

High-definition Imaging Sonar

US-based Sound Metrics has launched its newest product, the ARIS Explorer line of high-definition imaging sonar. The device offers detailed and video-like resolution. There are three ARIS Explorer models: the 3000 (3MHz) for highly detailed close-up inspection, the 1800 (1.8MHz) for general purpose detection and inspection, and the 1.2MHz which allows long-range location, detection and inspection. An additional diver-held model along with several market specific software modules and enhancements are to follow. For over ten years, Sound Metrics been offering the DIDSON imaging sonar which is in use in many underwater projects, ranging from protecting endangered fish species to oil... (read more)

2012-06-05 02:17:35

SeaKing Hammerhead DST Sonar

Tritech International has launched its new addition to the SeaKing family of imaging scanning sonar products - the Hammerhead scanning sonar. The unit can create higher resolution imagery than comparative mechanical scanning imaging sonars by utilising a large transducer aperture, very fine mechanical step size and proven Digital Sonar Technology. As standard the SeaKing Hammerhead sonar has two frequencies of operation: a high chirped 935 kHz frequency to enable high resolution imagery, and a second chirped frequency, 675 kHz, to allow for long range capability. The wide transducer allows for a very narrow horizontal beam to be created on both... (read more)

2010-03-05 01:48:00

Side-scan Sonar Demonstration

GeoAcoustics has launched Sonar 2094 Digital. A series of seminars and demonstrations were held by Simrad Spain, the local Kongsberg office, in November and December of the past year for their naval, scientific and industry customers. The capabilities of this technology for environmental mapping, engineering and archaeology surveys as well as object detection and classification were shown in various places along the Mediterranean coast. Sonar 2094 Digital is the successor of the Dual Frequency Side-scan sonar, which was first launched in 1996 and developed into an industry standard, with over 1,000 units sold worldwide. Sonar 2094 Digital combines the... (read more)

2011-01-18 02:55:46

3D Sonar Technology

The journey from oil and gas to homeland security and back again

Since its introduction many years ago, survey sonar has evolved steadily, but is still a difficult and non-intuitive survey tool, requiring large amounts of processing to arrive at the most basic end product. Initially, anyone wanting to survey or inspect the underwater environment was limited to single beam echo-sounders, in simple terms one-dimensional sonar, yielding very little quantifiable data. These in turn were developed into mechanically scanned sonars, and subsequently into today’s high performance multi-beam and forward looking sonars which are the back-bone of the survey industry. Even the very best commercially available multi-beam sonar delivers only 2 dimensional data... (read more)

2008-01-01 01:00:00

Sonar for Underwater Vehicles

EdgeTech has presented a new sonar solution specifically designed for AUVs, ROVs, USVs and other hosted platforms. The 2205 Series is the latest generation of electronics, transducers and software specifically optimised for the demanding size, power and cost constraints present in hosted platform systems. The system runs the full range of EdgeTech side scan sonar frequencies from 100kHz to 1600kHz, sub-bottom profiler frequencies from 500Hz to 24kHz and swath bathymetry at 230kHz or 540kHz making it a versatile sonar imaging solution on the market focused on the underwater vehicle group. The new 2205 also is available with EdgeTech’s Dynamic Focusing... (read more)

2012-02-13 11:57:31

Side-scan Sonar Seminar

A Side-scan Sonar Operations and Maintenance Training Seminar is to take place from 17th to 19th May, 2011. The seminar will be conducted at L-3 Klein's Facility in Salem, NH, USA. The training will include two days of classroom instruction and 1 day of on the water training; lunch will be provided daily. This seminar is geared to the operator, as well as to the manager, who wants a better understanding of Side Scan Sonar techniques. The course is open to any user of side-scan sonar regardless of brand, experience, or occupation. The instructor for the course will be Garry... (read more)

2011-03-07 12:19:12

Sonar Interface Unit

The Octopus 160 sonar interface unit's design and is compact, rugged and weather-proof. Compatible with EdgeTech's work-horse 272TD dual-frequency side-scan sonar, it is simple to operate and is suitable for small boat use in many types of underwater survey. Housed in a rugged custom Pelicase, the 160 is highly portable and it can be operated with the lid closed allowing uninterrupted operation in harsh environments. Another popular feature is the new user interface for all controls and once configured for a specific towfish, this needs no further adjustment. With direct connection to standard EdgeTech 272TD tow cables and full... (read more)

2009-10-09 10:21:17

Versatile Side-scan Sonar

JW Fishers developed a side-scan towfish with adjustable transducers. The angle of the transducers can be changed by rotating the tail section of the towfish. This allows the sonar to scan the hull of a ship for attached contraband compartments and inspect the face of a dam, bridge, or oil platform for explosive devices. Already several departments have purchased these side scans with the new adjustable transducers including the Escambia Sheriff’s Office in Pensacola (FL, USA) and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Stillwater (MI, USA). Jim Anderson of Washington County’s Water Recovery Unit says to be impressed with the... (read more)

2008-07-02 09:17:29

Multibeam Sonar Training Course

The 51st UNB-OMB / UNH-CCOM Multibeam Sonar Training Course, co-hosted by the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation, Brazilian Navy, will be held from 23-28 November 2009 at the Hotel Orizzonte, Niterói, RJ, Brazil and this will be first time the course has been conducted in South America. The Multibeam Course is a 36-lecture, 6-day course primarily designed to provide a theoretical and practical background in marine multibeam survey technology and techniques. The information is tailored for those using marine multibeam survey systems in both the traditional hydrographic survey field (for safety of navigation and nautical charting) as well... (read more)

2009-10-19 10:14:45