SBP27

The SBP27 has significantly reduced beam widths compared to conventional sub-bottom profilers. This is obtained by one linear transmitter array mounted along the vessel keel, and one linear hydrophone array (shared with the EM122/302) mounted orthogonal to the keel. The footprint of the transmitter array is wide across-track and narrow along-track, whereas the opposite is the case for the receiver array. The combined beam pattern of the two arrays is a narrow beam.

The SBP27's multibeam capability is particularly useful in challenging conditions. It is adept at finding the specular return(s) in rough terrain despite its narrow beams, resolving lateral specular returns, detecting buried objects, and obtaining information about the sloping angle of sediments with a significant degree of accuracy. Its beams are electronically stabilized for roll and pitch to ensure clear imaging, while the data are heave compensated for consistency across varying sea conditions.

The array geometry of the SBP27 mirrors that is used by the EM multibeam echo sounders, utilizing the same wideband receive antenna. With much narrower beam widths than conventional sub-bottom profilers, the SBP27 provides a superior specular return-to-backscatter ratio, achieving a composite echogram that yields high-quality acoustic imaging. The system has several advantages when encountering sloping sediments and is capable of scanning the volume by cyclically tilting the TX beam to collect the best combination of data in a single echogram.