Side Scan Sonar

The system consists of 3 main components:

• Model DF-1000 digital underwater towfish incl. towcable
• Digital control unit (DCU)
• ISIS Data acquisition and image processing system

The DF 1000 Tow fish is a towed body which contains the transducers and electronic necessary to generate and receive the sidescan sonar signals, and communicate with the topside unit (DCU).

The DCU is a topside command and control unit that interfaces between the sidescan processor and the tow fish. It is the modem that communicates with the subsea unit and provides power to it.

The ISIS system is designed to acquire, process and store multiple channels of sidescan sonar data. ISIS will also acquire and store navigation, towfish altitude information, depth and magnetic data.

The whole setup provides a very high-resolution plan view of the seafloor below. Locates hazards and obstructions in proposed cable routes and can track installed cable lines. Used for quick location and identification of surface faults.

DF-1000 Towfish

Features

• Dual simultaneous 100/500kHz operation
• Sonar signals digitized in towfish
• High speed digital uplink
• 12 bit high resolution sonar images
• Single coaxial towcable
• 1000 meter depth rating
• Built in compass for towfish heading
• Acoustic responder option
• 24 kHz sampling
• Pitch and roll (optional
  

DCU

Features

• 300dB maximum attenuation at 1 MHz
• Digital output port available
• Works with cable lengths up to 3000 meters