Sub Bottom Profilers

Based on CHIRP technology mastered in-house and thanks to its transducers wide aperture, Echoes Series provides very high-resolution images of the sediment layers, from shallow to deep water, with unique capabilities for object detection and a maximum penetration whatever the seabed topography.

iXblue know-how in sub-bottom profiling is built from a custom piezo-electric transducer design activity in the 150Hz to 400kHz range. These high-power and wide bandwidth devices were especially suited for the development of a complete range of controlled pulse sub-bottom profiler projectors. Enhanced by in-house designed low distortion and high efficiency power amplifiers, all components are manufactured internally while many other manufacturers integrate off-the-shelf components. This mastering of the acquisition chain ensures that the acoustic signal transmitted is very close to the theoretical CHIRP waveform, thus ensuring the highest degree of resolution and quality resulting from the signal processing.

Buried objects

High-resolution seismic profiles derived from Echoes measurements can show individual and parabolic structures that can be attributed to individual reflective objects, such as decimetric rocks or pipelines. This performance is due to iXblue’s unique internal skills in the design of efficient CHIRP technology with large transducer beams (around 20°) that result in an impressive signal continuity and the identification of buried objects. This key performance brings new insights for 3D mapping of individual boulder clearance for shallow marine environment (< 150 m).

Seismic reflexion data highlight the presence of gas in sediments by a critical decrease of acoustic velocity generating blanking in seismic profiles. In recent studies in volcanic environments, Echoes showed clear relations between locations of degassing and lake bottom morphologies, such as possible pockmarks and faults, providing information on how these morphologies influence volcanic degassing in this area. Although origins of gas remain difficult to access with seismic reflexion data, Echoes can generate various acoustic blanking morphotypes and help differentiate gas origins and/or dynamics.

Legend: Seismic profiles from Laacher See volcanic crater lake (Eifel, Germany).  Fig1: gas bubbles related to organic matter decomposition at water-sediment interface. Fig2: gas flare from the underneath volcano. Acoustic blanking on the right side of the profile indicates limits of gas saturation in sediments. Fig 3: Active gas seapage zone visible in sediments and water column.

Read the full article about gas detection in the Laacher See

All types of applications

The Echoes Series can be pole, hull-mounted or integrated on USV or AUV and are therefore easily operated and mobilized from vessels of opportunity, covering a full spectrum of applications, from shallow to deep water: physical oceanography, sea-floor mapping, oceanographic survey, industrial survey, geotechnical survey, marine archaeology, sedimentology broadband projectors and deep ocean operations

iXblue has also developed an open software suite for acquiring, processing and mapping all kinds of hydrographic and geophysical data. The Delph Geo Software Suite naturally makes the best from the Echoes sub-bottom profiler’s data with possible improvement on the chirp processing and complete 3D geo-referencing of survey data both in real-time and offline.

More info about Delph Geo

Marine/lacustrine geosciences – Paleoclimate

• High-resolution seismic reflection profiles
• Operable from shallow to deep waters
• Sedimentary dynamics related to:
  • Hydrological variability
  • Geo-hazard
  • Flood
  • Earthquake
  • Tsunami
  • Erosion

Archeology and Geo-archeology

• Identify artefact buried in sediments
• Designed for shallow waters
• High-resolution seismic reflection profiles for:
  • Submerged prehistoric archaelogy
  • Estimation of site volume
  • Post-excavation interpretation
  • Sedimentary processes

Pre & post dredging

• High resolution seismic reflection profiles
• Operable from shallow to deep waters
• Stability and distribution of sediments
• Nature and volume of sediments to be dredged
• Estimation of consistency and strength of sediments using Delph software

Offshore energy

• From shallow to full ocean depth water
• Nature and structure of the first 300 meters of sediments
• High-resolution seismic reflection profiles for:
  • Marine platforms implantation
  • Route/boulder clearance
  • Pockmark detection
  • Seabed roughness
  • Bedrock depth
  • Geo-acoustic inversion modeling