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Multibeam echosounders
Advantages of a multibeam echo sounders
We are a leading manufacturer of multibeam echosounder systems for seabed mapping. Our product range includes models for all water depths and virtually any application. The benefit of multibeam echo sounders is that they map the seafloor by a fan of narrow acoustic beams, thus providing 100% coverage of the bottom. The resulting seabed maps are more detailed than those obtained using single-beam mapping. The maps are also produced faster, reducing your ship survey time.
| Model |
Frequency |
Min/max depths*) |
Max swath width |
Available configuration |
| EM 2040C |
200 - 400 kHz |
0.5 - 500 m |
Single head:
4.3xD / 580m /
130 degrees
Dual head:
10xD / 690m /
200 degrees |
1x1
Single and dual head |
| EM 2040 |
200 - 400 kHz |
0.5 - 600 m |
Single RX:
5.5xD / 800m /
140 degrees
Dual RX:
10xD / 900m /
200 degrees |
0.4x0.7
0.7x0.7
Single and dual RX conf. for increased swath and with
single and dual swath capability for increased seafloor coverage |
| EM 710RD |
70 - 100 kHz |
3 - 600 m |
5.5xD / 1100 m /
140 degrees |
1x2, 2x2*
*Short CW transmit pulses |
| EM 710S |
70 - 100 kHz |
3 - 1400 m |
5.5xD / 1800 m /
140 degrees |
0.5x1, 1x1, 1x2 and 2x2*
*CW transmit pulses |
| EM 710 |
70 - 100 kHz |
3 - 2000 m |
5.5xD / 2300 m /
140 degrees |
0.5x1, 1x1, 1x2 and 2x2*
*CW and FM transmit pulses |
| EM 302 |
30 kHz |
10 - 8000 m |
6xD / 10-11 km /
143 degrees |
0.5x1, 1x1, 1x2, 2x2, 2x4 and 4x4*
*Other customer specific conf. available on request |
| EM 122 |
12 kHz |
50 - 11000 m |
6xD/35-40 km /
143 degrees |
0.5x1, 1x1, 1x2, 2x2 and 2x4*
*Other customer specific conf. available on request |
Integrating more than one multibeam echo sounder
Depending upon the application, it can make sense to combine 2 or 3 multibeam echosounders with different frequencies into one system. A higher frequency instrument will have better resolution and accuracy than a lower frequency instrument for a certain water depth. The different frequency models listed below are compatible and can be combined freely. If only one instrument is used at a time, a single operator unit is sufficient. However, when more than one frequency is activated for simultaneous operation, one operator unit is required for each instrument.
High accuracy
Our multibeam echo sounders are professional tools for precision mapping of the
seabed, complying with the performance standards defined by the International Hydrographic
Organization’s performance standards, S-44 edition 5. Our instruments are all characterized
by high mapping productivity in combination with exceptionally high sounding accuracy,
and a dense pattern of soundings to cover the seafloor in order to reveal all details
on the bottom. In addition to the soundings, the multibeam echo sounders produce
seabed image data similar to a side scan sonar image. This dataset is useful for
characterizing the seabed material properties and sometimes for detecting small
features not visible in the sounding data.
Complete mapping system
To form a complete mapping system, our multibeam echo sounders are connected
to positioning equipment, heading and motion sensing instruments, as well as sound
velocity sensors in order to position the soundings correctly.
Portable solutions
Portable solutions can be offered for inshore surveying. Permanent or semi-permanent
mounting of the acoustic transducers is recommended for offshore work with surface
vessels. Solutions for ROV- and AUV-based multibeam surveying are available. We
have considerable experience and can assist you with practical advice.
Realtime software
Our multibeam echo sounders are operated from a graphic display workstation.
Our realtime software includes extensive tools for visualizing the sounding data
as well as the seabed image data, and to check the system calibration and the data
quality. Preliminary maps can be produced and plotted almost immediately after a
survey is finished.
Post-processing software
Post-processing software for cleaning and correcting of multibeam sounding data
is offered, as well as tools for producing seabed image mosaics and classification
of the seabed sediment types. We offer solutions for complete data processing all
the way to the final products, including electronic chart data in the form of S-57
databases and plotting of paper charts.
Prepared for integration
Our multibeam echo sounders are prepared for integration with other acoustic
instruments and can be used as subsystems in integrated survey instrumentation solutions,
involving centralized synchronization of the transmission sequence and Marine Data
Management.
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