Course

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 / 0.1 CEU Online & Asynchronous Self-Paced — 90 Days
1.0
PDH Credit
90
Days Access
80%
Passing Score
3
Modules
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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 — a practicing hydrographic surveyor and Licensed State Land Surveyor in Texas — the course grounds every concept in professional field practice.

Learners 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 — using acoustic shadows, backscatter patterns, and local knowledge to identify what is sitting on the seafloor.

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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 Is Side Scan Sonar?

  • Purpose: maps objects on the seafloor, not buried beneath it
  • SSS as a skill, not just a procedure
  • Capabilities and limitations vs. echo sounders
  • Common applications: pipeline location, hazard surveys, cultural resource surveys

The Towfish

  • How the towfish emits and receives acoustic pulses
  • Port and starboard channels; dual-frequency operation
  • Tow speed, altitude, and swath coverage relationships
  • Frequency trade-offs: 580 kHz vs. 1610 kHz

Vessel Setup and Mounting Configurations

  • Fixed/Over-the-Side (OTS) mount
  • Bow mount for shallow-water surveys
  • Outrigger tow with paravane stabilizers
  • Sources of interference: vessel noise, wave action, wildlife, electronics
  • Shallow vs. deeper water configuration decisions

MODULE 2

Data Collection and Processing

Survey Design and Import

  • Cable-out, survey line spacing, and overlap planning
  • Importing JSF files into SonarWiz
  • Frequency channel selection and coordinate system setup

Bottom Tracking and Slant-Range Correction

  • Nadir zone and first return identification
  • Manual vs. auto-tracking methods
  • Syncing port and starboard channels
  • Why accurate bottom tracking drives all downstream accuracy

Layback and Sheave Corrections

  • Along-track (layback) and across-track (sheave) offsets
  • Calculating and applying both corrections in SonarWiz
  • Verifying corrections using overlapping survey lines

Target ID, Reporting, and Mosaic Export

  • Digitizing contacts and measuring target attributes
  • Contact classification and report generation
  • EGN table, mosaic line selection, and GeoTIFF export
  • Final deliverable package: contact report, CSV, georeferenced mosaic

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

MODULE 3

Identifying Targets and Assessment

Reading SSS Imagery

  • How acoustic shadows form and what they reveal
  • Shadow length as a measure of target height
  • Seafloor objects vs. water column objects
  • Interpreting backscatter intensity and bottom type

Common Target Types

  • Pilings, tires, and man-made debris
  • Reef structures (slab reef, rock piles)
  • Shipwrecks and complex hull returns
  • Biological returns and unidentifiable debris
  • Role of local knowledge in 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
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Professional Benefits

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PDH/CEU 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

Note: 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 ©