Shark Marine Technologies Inc. recently introduced its newest system for autonomous bathymetric surveying: The DiveLog Automated Survey Boat or D.A.S. Boat. The D.A.S. Boat is controlled by Shark Marine’s field proven DiveLog software.
Originally designed to create an intuitive interface for Shark Marine’s Navigator product line, DiveLog is now being used for ROV Control, Diver Delivery System Control, Survey, and Search and Recovery Computer Topsides, as well as Autonomous Surface Vessel Control. DiveLog manages multiple positioning systems, route creation and following, and control of many different sensor types such as Side Scan, Multi Beam Profiling, Echo Sounders, Scanning Sonars, Magnetometers, Gradiometers and Cameras, and provides data collection and coverage mapping.
D.A.S. Boat can be operated manually using a hand controller, or be programmed to precisely follow routes created in DiveLog. While in Autonomous mode, DiveLog sends control information from a shore station using a radio modem. A small computer can also be installed in the D.A.S. Boat for operation without a shore station. Positioning and hydrographic data are sent from the D.A.S. Boat back to shore so its progress can be monitored. Control can be reset back to manual mode at any time, if required. Data collected by D.A.S. Boat can be viewed in DiveLog and exported for processing in programs such as Hypack, Caris, and Fledermaus, or for use in Shark Marine’s Sediment Accumulation Monitor (S.A.M.) Software.
S.A.M. was designed to track sediment build up over time. By importing depth readings created in DiveLog, SAM creates a readable, but detailed, grid of average, minimum, and maximum sediment depths, filtering out incorrect or noisy sonar readings. User settable alarms allow users to be alerted to problematic sediment buildup, or rate of buildup, quickly and without time-consuming user evaluation. Single-click graphing of buildup over time allow quick presentation and evaluation of data.
Press Release, February 11, 2014; Image: Shark Marine