Bathymetry

Drone bathymetry payloads — single-beam and multibeam echosounders for river, reservoir and coastal survey. EchoLogger, Cerulean and BeamworX processing, with centimetre-accurate depth from the air.

Read the buying guide: Drone bathymetry in India: echo sounders and buying guide.

A drone-carried echo sounder measures depth where a boat is slow, unsafe or impossible to launch. In India it suits irrigation and water-resources departments, dam and reservoir operators, mining companies surveying tailings and pit ponds, port and coastal engineers, and survey firms.

How to choose a drone echo sounder

• Single-beam depth profiles: the EchoLogger ECT 400S (450 kHz, 0.15–100 m) suits rivers and lakes. The ECT D052S (50/200 kHz, up to 200 m) handles deeper water, and the ECT D24S is a dual-frequency 200/450 kHz unit.
• Aggressive water: the EchoLogger ETF 400S has every exposed part in PTFE for acidic or chemically aggressive ponds (0.15–50 m).
• 3D coverage: the EchoNIMBUS-MBES multibeam (0.5–50 m, 2.4 kg all-in) captures swaths rather than single lines.
• Bottom imaging: the EchoNIMBUS-SSS side-scan sonar images the bed for search, pipelines and wrecks.
• Software and training: each sounder needs its SkyHub package; see bathymetry software and bathymetry training.

Frequently asked questions

Which drones can carry an echo sounder?

The systems fly with the SkyHub onboard computer, which supports the DJI M400, M350 RTK and M300 RTK and Pixhawk drones. We confirm mounts and cables for your aircraft.

What is in a typical single-beam system?

The echo sounder, SkyHub, an altimeter, housing, cables and mountings — about 1.6 kg in the air for the ECT 400S with the light housing — plus UgCS for planning.

Single-beam or multibeam?

Single-beam gives depth along each flight line and is the simpler entry point. Multibeam covers a swath and suits volume and sediment studies; SPH Engineering recommends BeamworX for processing it.

What does a system cost?

Every system is quoted per configuration. Ask for the current lead time with your quote.

Is bathymetry training available?

Yes. SPH Engineering's BATHY-1, BATHY-2, MBES-1 and MBES-2 courses and practical exams are available, priced on request.