http://www.tritech.co.uk/uploaded_files/Side%20Scan%20Sonars.

pdf

Side Scan SONAR (SSS)

The side scan sonar
transmits a narrow
acoustic beam to the side
of the survey track line
which propagates out
across the seabed
To locate pipeline or
cable routes, seamounts,
obstructions specifically,
shipwreck location, mine
hunting, downed aircraft
search and lost cargo
As the acoustic beam travels outward from the side scan sonar, the seabed
and other obstructions reflect some of the incident sound energy back in the
direction of the side scan sonar (known as backscatter). The travel time of
the acoustic pulses from the side scan sonar are recorded together with the
amplitude of the returned signal as a time series and sent to a topside 1
console for interpretation and display
 Side Scan Sonar (SSS)

SSS Data

SSS Tow-fish

SSS System
 Single Beam Echo Sounder

SBES
system

Source is usually a transducer that is both Transmitter and

Receiver. Transducer is generally fixed to the hull bottom of 3
the survey ship. SBES is hardly used now. MBES preferred
https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/pi/MB-
System/sonarfunction/SeaBeamMultibeamTheoryOperation.pdf

Multi-beam Echo Sounder

4
 Magnetometer

Magnetometer Tow Fish and

Magnetometer System
5
 Sub bottom Profiler
Sub-bottom profiling systems use the
technique of Reflection Seismology to create
a 2D picture of the geology beneath the
seabed. This technology requires a controlled
seismic source of energy connected by high
voltage cable to a sound source (boomer or
sparker) that transfers the energy through the
water to penetrate the seabed. The energy
reflected back from the solid seabed layers is
received by hydrophones on the sea surface,
recorded and processed by a data acquisition
system aboard a vessel, so that visual profile
of the seabed can be created.

6
 Sub Bottom Profile
equipment
Pinger Chirp System: 0.5 to 24KHz

Pinger System: 10 to 24 kHz

Boomer System: 0.2 to 3KHz Air Gun System

Pinger 4 X 4 Transducer Boomer Plate Sparker System: 50 Hz to 4KHz

Basically we need a TX, RX and a recording system 7

 Frequency, Penetration and
Resolution
HIGER HIGER FREQUENCY
HIGH LOW
FREQUENCY SIGNALS HAVE
RESOLUTION PENETRATION
SYSTEM SHORTER WAVE
LENGTHS AND ARE
ABLE TO
Every DISCRIMINATE PINGER AND CHIRP
measurement BETWEEN LAYERS
is needed to THAT ARE CLOSE
TOGETHER
completely
describe all BOOMER, SPARKER AND MINI AIR
properties GUN
LONGER SOUND
PULSE LENGTHS
LOWER
TRANSMIT MORE LOW HIGH
FREQUENCY
ENERGY AND RESOLUTION PENETRATION
SYSTEMS
YIELDS DEEPER
PENETRATION
8