Application of Unmanned Surface Vehicles in Coastal Environments: Bathymetric Survey using a Multibeam Echosounder

Abstract

Kum, B.-C.; Shin, D.-H.; Jang, S.; Lee, S.Y.; Lee, J.H.; Moh, T.J.; Lim, D.G.; Do, J.-D., and Cho, J.H., 2020. Application of unmanned surface vehicles in coastal environments: Bathymetric survey using a multibeam echosounder. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 1152-1156. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.This paper presents the practical application and results of a bathymetric survey carried out in a shallow marine coastal zone (Hujeong beach, located in the East Sea, South Korea) using a multi-functional unmanned surface vehicle (USV) equipped with a multibeam echosounder. Operation of the USV was conducted along the coast in very shallow water [depth ≤ 1.5 m (0.3 m below the transducer)], which is inaccessible to manned research vessels. High-resolution bathymetric data is expected to help with assessment and prediction of rapid changes in the shallow coastal zone. This work supports the applicability of USVs to scientific research and environmental monitoring in very shallow coastal areas. The USV will be the most extensively used technique for observing marine coastal environment.