Applications of Multibeam Sonar Surveys in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Abstract
Multibeam sonars are shallow water instruments that provide full bottom coverage and are ideal for the inland waters and river operations covered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Recent advances in multibeam echo sounding coupled with increasing computing capabilities have led this agency to achieve higher efficiencies in performing its hydrographic surveying mission, The high resolution and accuracy of multibeam survey systems have enabled them to be used for dredge payment surveys in channel deepening operations where highly accurate digital terrain models (DTMs) are needed. Environments for hydrographic surveying range from muddy, low slope rivers with high concentrations of suspended particulate matter and very soft bottoms, to dynamic coastal areas and estuaries with rapidly changing water characteristics. These conditions will dictate which sonar frequency and swath width is best suited for a particular location. Included in this paper are examples from the Mississippi River area, Houston-Galveston Ship Channel, Panama Canal, and California. This wide range of conditions has justified the need for development of a low frequency multibeam transducer that will penetrate the unconsolidated sediments found in many rivers in the southeastern United States.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA355042
Entities
People
- Robert G. Mann
Organizations
- Army Geospatial Center