The Importance of Under-Keel Sound Velocity Sensor in Measuring Water Depth with Multibeam Echosounder

Artur Grządziel

doi:10.3390/en14175267

Abstract

The basic and most commonly used application of modern multibeam echosounders (MBES) is the bathymetric survey. Surface sound velocity errors introduce errors on beam steering angles and consequently errors in depth and position values. Due to systematic malfunction and troubleshooting of the sound velocity sensor (SVS) on board Polish Navy hydrographic ship Arctowski, attempts to solve the problem were made. All the inspections and cleaning of the sensor were performed with the use of divers or while staying in the shipyard. Diving work did not always bring the expected results and periodic ship docking was quite expensive. The article shows the importance of the SVS sensor in bathymetric measurements using multibeam echosounder. Selected problems of the sensor operation and temporary solutions were presented. The paper provides a description of practical solutions implemented aboard the navy ship Arctowski. The idea and implementation were the result of the author’s experience gained during 18 years of service on board that ship.

Highlights

IntroductionMan’s pursuit to explore the ocean seabed began a new science called Hydrography, which was born over 3700 years ago [1]
Importance of Under-Keel SoundMan’s pursuit to explore the ocean seabed began a new science called Hydrography, which was born over 3700 years ago [1]
An inherent component of the hydrographic survey system based on multibeam echosounders (MBES) is a sound velocity sensor

Summary

Introduction

Man’s pursuit to explore the ocean seabed began a new science called Hydrography, which was born over 3700 years ago [1]. Two thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered by the world’s oceans, only a small part has been mapped by direct measurements [2]. A huge majority of oceans and seas are still not sensed nor explored. In spite of the introduction of new and advanced survey techniques, the depth of the ocean has been measured over less than 18% of the sea bottom using acoustic devices at a resolution of about 1 km [4]. 10% have been surveyed by means of modern remote sensing technology and another 5% were mapped with lead lines [5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion