Fast and Precise Water Depth and Hydrographic Surveys

SPH Engineering’s drone-integrated echo sounders deliver reliable bathymetric and hydrographic data with minimal logistics. The system enables accurate measurements in shallow, hazardous, or inaccessible waters—reducing survey time, costs, and risks compared to traditional vessel, boat or manual methods.

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Echo Sounders

Case Studies

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System components

SPH Engineering delivers a fully integrated ecosystem for water depth and hydrological surveys—far beyond a simple echo sounder. The package combines the Echo Sounder with the SkyHub onboard computer, radar altimeter for precise altitude control, UgCS flight planning software, and Hydromagic Survey or BeamworX software for data processing and analysis. Supported by expert training, this all-in-one solution equips clients with everything needed to plan missions, collect accurate bathymetric data, process results, and transform them into actionable insights.

Instead of sourcing and integrating components separately, customers receive a turnkey system designed, tested, and supported by SPH Engineering to ensure efficiency, reliability, and confidence in every survey.

Compatible drones: DJI M400/M350/M300, Inspired Flight IF1200A, Inspired Flight IF800, Harris Aerial H6, and Wispr Ranger Pro and similar UAV

Echo Sounder

In housing with suspension/mounting system

SkyHub

Onboard Computer

Acts as datalogger for echosounder data and implements True Terrain Following mode for DJI drones

Radar Altimeter

To fly automatically at set altitude over the water and handle the tides and waves

UgCS

Flight Planning Software

Drone flight planning software for mission planning and flight control, essential for accurate echo sounder data collection.

Eye4software Hydromagic Survey or BeamworkX

Bathymetric data processing software

Training

Comprehensive training programs covering installation, calibration, data collection, and analysis, ensuring flawless workflow performance.

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Echo Sounder Overview

EchoNIMBUS-MBES multibeam echo sounder with an acoustic frequency of 240 kHz

ECT400S single-frequency echo sounder with an acoustic frequency of 450 kHz

ECTD24S dual-frequency echo sounder with an acoustic frequency of 450 and 200 kHz

ECTD052S dual-frequency echo sounder with an acoustic frequency of 200 and 50 kHz

Compare Echo Sounders
Model	ECT400S	ECTD24S	ECTD052S	EchoNIMBUS-MBES
Type	SBES, Single-frequency	SBES, Dual-frequency	SBES, Dual-frequency	MBES
Aqustic frequency, kHz	450	200/450	50/200	240
Measurement range, m	0.15 .. 100	0.50 ... 200 (200 kHz); 0.15 … 100 (450 kHz)	1.00 .. 200 (50 kHz); 0.50 .. 200 (200 kHz)	0.5 … 50
Beam width	5° Conical (-3dB)	10°/5° (200/450 kHz) Conical (-3dB)	27°/7° (50 kHz/200 kHz) Conical (-3dB)	80° Cross track TX beam width
Along track TX beam width				4°
RX array # elements				16
Cross track beam width				7° (conventional beamforming)
Cross track angular resolution				1° (angle of arrival)
Range resolution	1.0mm	1.0mm	1.0mm	270.5% of range setting
Accuracy	0.2% off the depth measurement	0.2% off the depth measurement	0.2% off the depth measurement
Suitable for sediment measurements
Integrated tilt/roll sensor
Integrated temperature sensor
Weight of the echo sounder (in the air), kg		1.3	1.85	1.8
Weight of all components (in the air), kg (sensor, SkyHub, altimeter, housing, cables, mountings)		1.9	2.45	2.4
Data examples	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
Suitable drones	• DJI M400/M350/M300 • Inspired Flight IF800/IF1200A • WISPR RangerPro • or drones of comparable size
Delivery Information
	• EchoLogger ECT400S echo sounder with tilt and temperature sensor	• EchoLogger ECTD24S echo sounder with tilt and temperature sensor	• EchoLogger ECTD052S echo sounder with tilt and temperature sensor	• Cerulean Surveyor 240-16 MBES sensor with roll/pitch, temperature and depth sensors
What's in the Kit	• Harness with carabiner • Stainless steel protective housing • Data cable with RS232 interface and connector for SkyHub onboard computer • Transportation/protective hard case			• Foldable arm with sensor housing • Data cable with Ethernet interface and power connector for SkyHub • Transportation/protective hard case
Protective box size (L x W x H)	28L x 22W x 9H cm	28L x 22W x 9H cm	27.5L x 23W x 15.5H cm	119L x 41W x 16H cm
Outer carbon-made box size (L x W x H) for the delivery	31L x 22.5W x 10H cm	31L x 22.5W x 10H cm	28L x 25W x 16H cm	120L x 42W x 17H cm
Package weight	2.4 kg	2.4 kg	2.45 kg	2.4 kg
HS Code	90158040	90158040	90158040	90158040