Demonstrating Shallow-water Multibeam Bathymetry
Saildrone's first shallow-water multibeam bathymetry mission in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Problem
Saildrone partnered with the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to launch a Saildrone unmanned surface vehicle (USV) equipped with a shallow-water multibeam echo sounder in the Gulf of Mexico to test the accuracy and longevity of the platform. SD 1024 spent 10 days sailing narrow transects in key areas of the gulf. The mission was designed to show that the saildrone could steer accurately enough to conduct a multibeam survey in shallow water and that the saildrone power budget could handle the significant requirements of a multibeam system operating 24/7.
Outcome
With minimal post-processing, Saildrone data was found to meet or exceed International Hydrographic Organization standards for safety of navigation surveys.
SD-1024’s survey area included two known shipwrecks, but during the mission, the Saildrone USV discovered a third wreck that doesn’t appear on any chart.
“The United States has vast areas of unsurveyed waters, particularly in the Western Pacific, the Arctic, and the Great Lakes. We cannot afford to conduct these surveys using traditional methods and are seeking technology that will allow us to increase our capacity for surveying over the coming decade.”
Start Your Mission Today
Contact us now to discuss your mission requirements.