Subsea Tech has developed in partnership with Seaviews company an Acoustic System for Automatic Seafloor Classification (SACLAF) using a multibeam echosounder.
This project was led within the framework of the ADEME‘s Programme Investissement d’Avenir (with the contribution of the Pôle Mer Méditerranée). The developed system allows measuring and classifying the variations of the sounder signal in order to determine the seafloor nature and the presence of marine vegetation (Posidonia, Eelgrass, Cymodocea).
Data acquisition was carried out using the NORBIT WBMS echosounder mounted on our CAT-Surveyor USV. The CAT-Surveyor’s automatic navigation software allows programing the USV route and automating the acquisition process. Besides, CAT-Surveyor’s low draught allows operations in very shallow areas (80cm). Thanks to the INS fitted on the CAT-Surveyor and to the RTK correction provided by the GPS antenna, the navigation control is extremely accurate and the system offers high resolution 3D bathymetry (cm accuracy).
The acquisition provides 2 types of data : 
• Echo-integration data (signal distortion depending on the seafloor nature).
• Roughness index identifying accurately the floor shape.
By implementing this technology, detailed and high resolution maps can be produced for large areas at low cost. Sonar and aerial images can be combined to cross-check the data.
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For more information, please contact us : st.sales@subsea-tech.com
