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Bathymetric surveys with a UAV and an echo sounder successfully conducted in Israel

Integrated Systems
May 31, 2021

Israeli drone service provider ERELIS recently conducted a number of pilot projects using a drone equipped with a single-beam echo sounder in the Mediterranean and Dead Seas. The data was validated by authorized local surveyors and reports from previous surveys of the same areas by “Michmoret Campus - Faculty of Marine Sciences”.

The “reference” bathymetric data was collected using a manned boat and multi-beam and single-beam echo sounders and demonstrated a good match between the results of new drone-based and traditional methods.

The bathymetric system consisted of a standard commercial DJI drone (UgCS SkyHub onboard computer and terrain following system with radar altimeter) and Echologger ECT400 single-beam echo sounder provided by SPH Engineering, Latvia. For data processing, the Eye4Software Hydromagic software package was employed.

A survey at the Mediterranean sea © ERELIS

“I was surprised by the maneuverability of the system and how easy it is to conduct bathymetric surveys using a UAV equipped with an echo sounder. Some of our survey areas were 400-500m away from take-off/landing positions and that means that the term “remote sensing” comes to the world of hydrography and becomes available to any drone service companies,” Roman Kirsanov, CEO of ERELIS, comments.

“Good to see that applicability of our system with a single-beam echo sounder is validated in conditions outside of its initial focus on small-scale surveys of inland water bodies, first of all when the possibility to do surveys without actual physical access to the area under investigation, as well as situations where it is not reasonable to employ traditional methods. Furthermore, thanks to our partner, we can now also recommend our system for small-scale surveys in coastal areas and virtually in any liquids - density of water in the Dead Sea is 1.24kg/L,” Alexey Dobrovolskiy, CTO of SPH Engineering, adds.

Data sample from a survey at the Dead sea © ERELIS

SPH Engineering announced the launch of a UAV drone, integrated with an echo sounder, as a new product for bathymetric surveys of inland and coastal waters in May 2020. This data collection method has since been used in a number of countries, including Denmark and the UAE. The method has proven to be both time and cost-efficient and suitable for mapping, measuring, and inspections, as well as environmental monitoring. This bathymetry solution is also synchronized with the Hydromagic Survey software package.

About

About SPH Engineering

SPH Engineering is a provider of UAV software solutions, integration services, consulting, and custom development to expand drone applications. Its innovations support UAVs of different manufacturers and advance drone technologies for surveying, data collection, and entertainment. Founded in 2013 in Latvia (EU), the company has a global customer and partner network in 150+ countries.

About ERELIS

ERELIS is a certified CAAIL/EASA aerial operator specializing in autonomous data acquisition, real-time data feeds, NIR &IR remote sensing, and photogrammetric accurate survey mapping information services. ERELIS is permanently assessing and adding new technologies to its capabilities to determine and maintain high standards of service to its customers with emphasis on client need-based products and services.

Solution Used
UAV-based Echo Sounder System by SPH Engineering

Designed for precision bathymetric surveys, this advanced UAV system combines the latest in echo-sounding technology with reliable drone capabilities. Gather accurate underwater data quickly and efficiently, even in hard-to-reach locations.