Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) Calculator
Multi-Beam Echo Sounder Lines Separation and Resolution Calculator estimates multibeam echo sounder swath width, line separation, and bottom resolution based on your input depth and beam geometry. These calculations help marine surveyors determine optimal line spacing and expected data density for efficient and accurate hydrographic mapping
An MBES (Multibeam Echosounder) swath is the fan-shaped area of the seafloor surveyed in one pass using a multibeam sonar system. The swath increases with depth.
Resolution is the ability to distinguish between different objects/features on the bottom. Here, the resolution is estimated (roughly) as the swath width divided by 16 beams. If two small objects are "touched" by a single beam, in the data, they will be represented as a single object.