Course

Hydrographic Surveying: Side Scan Sonar

Time limit: 90 days
1 credit
Instructor: Jim Naismith

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Full course description

 

CONRAD BLUCHER INSTITUTE FOR SURVEYING AND SCIENCE

Hydrographic Surveying: Introduction to Side Scan Sonar

1.0
PDH Credit
90
Days Access
80%
Passing Score
3
Modules
Online
Self-Paced

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Course Overview

Side scan sonar is one of the most powerful tools in the hydrographic surveyor's kit and one of the most misunderstood. Producing accurate, interpretable acoustic imagery of the seafloor requires more than towing a sensor behind a vessel. It demands an understanding of equipment configuration, positional corrections, processing workflows, and the kind of practiced eye that comes from experience looking at real data.

This course introduces the theory, deployment, and data processing workflow of side scan sonar in hydrographic surveying, with practical context drawn from real survey operations. Developed in partnership with the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science and taught by Jim Naismith, RPLS, LSLS, OUPV the course grounds every concept in professional field practice.

You will explore how the towfish emits and receives acoustic energy, how to configure and deploy it in shallow-water environments, and how to move confidently through the complete SonarWiz post-processing workflow. The course culminates in hands-on target interpretation by using acoustic shadows, backscatter patterns, and local knowledge to identify what is sitting on the seafloor.

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Professional Benefits

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Credit applicable toward professional surveyor continuing education requirements

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Expert instruction from an active hydrographic surveyor and licensed professional

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Practical workflow experience from field collection through final client deliverable

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Foundation for advancing into multibeam echo sounder and broader hydrographic survey coursework

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Learning Outcomes

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

1

Describe the purpose and limitations of side scan sonar in hydrographic survey applications, including what SSS can and cannot detect.

2

Identify appropriate towfish mounting configurations for shallow and deeper water environments and explain the trade-offs of each.

3

Explain the SonarWiz post-processing workflow, including import, bottom tracking, layback and sheave correction, target identification, and georeferenced mosaic export.

4

Calculate layback and sheave offsets given field measurements and apply them correctly in processing software.

5

Interpret common target types from SSS imagery using acoustic shadow analysis, backscatter characteristics, and local knowledge.

6

List the required final deliverables for a standard side scan sonar survey, including the contact report, CSV point file, and georeferenced GeoTIFF mosaic.

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Module Breakdown

MODULE 1

Introduction to Side Scan Sonar

  • What SSS maps on the seafloor, and its limits vs. echo sounders
  • Common applications: pipeline location, hazard & cultural resource surveys
  • How the towfish emits and receives acoustic pulses; port/starboard channels & frequency trade-offs
  • Tow speed, altitude, and swath coverage relationships
  • Mounting configurations (OTS, bow mount, outrigger tow) and sources of interference

MODULE 2

Data Collection and Processing

  • Survey design: cable-out, line spacing & overlap planning
  • Importing JSF files into SonarWiz; frequency channel & coordinate system setup
  • Bottom tracking & slant-range correction; syncing port and starboard channels
  • Calculating and applying layback and sheave corrections, verified with overlapping lines
  • Target ID, contact classification, reporting & georeferenced mosaic (GeoTIFF) export

Assessment: Course Quiz | 80% to pass | Unlimited attempts

MODULE 3

Identifying Targets and Assessment

  • How acoustic shadows form, and shadow length as a measure of target height
  • Distinguishing seafloor objects from water column objects
  • Interpreting backscatter intensity and bottom type
  • Common target types: pilings, tires, debris, reef structures, shipwrecks
  • The role of local knowledge in target classification
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Target Audience

  • Registered Professional Land Surveyors (RPLS)
  • Licensed State Land Surveyors (LSLS)
  • Geospatial professionals expanding into marine survey work
  • Civil engineers involved in waterway or coastal projects
  • Graduate students in geospatial science or coastal engineering
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Technical Requirements

  • High-speed internet connection
  • Modern web browser
  • Audio capability for video lectures
  • No software installation required
  • Optional: printer for supplementary materials

Note: This course awards 1.0 PDH / 0.1 CEU credit. Participants are responsible for verifying acceptance of this course with their individual state licensing board. Course content is subject to updates at any time.

For registration assistance, contact Shelby Sharpe at shelby.sharpe@tamucc.edu

A Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science Professional Development Course ©