Multibeam sonar survey covering Survey Lincs Belt MCZ in 2012,A RESON SeaBat
7101 high resolution multi-beam echo sounder system was used to collect a high
density bathymetry data set within the survey area. The SeaBat 7101 is a
beam-forming system i.e. the receiver forms a set of virtual ‘beams’
mathematically and detects the range to the seabed for each beam. The SeaBat
7101 is a single frequency (240 kHz) multibeam echo sounder system, which
measures up to 511 discrete soundings, equally spaced across the wide 150°
swath. The system has an operating range from 0.5m to 300m and offers a high
ping rate, which means a high density of soundings, even with increased vessel
speed. The 7101 also has ‘real-time’ roll stabilisation, which helps to
maximise the useable swath width. Swath widths of up to 7.5 x water depth area
achievable and the unit is compliant with IHO SP44 Ed 5 over its entire depth
range. During this survey the system was configured to 512 beams in equi
distant (best coverage) mode. Data acquired was collected and processed
through the QPS QINSy software, where all peripheral data (POS MV 320, sound
velocity and tidal observations) are incorporated into the data set.
