Course

Single Beam Echo Sounder

Time limit: 90 days
1 credit
Instructor: Jim Naismith

$50 Enroll

Full course description

CONRAD BLUCHER INSTITUTE FOR SURVEYING AND SCIENCE

Hydrographic Surveying:

Single Beam Echo Sounder

1.0 PDH / 0.1 CEU Online & Asynchronous Self-Paced — 90 Days
1.0
PDH Credit
90
Days Access
80%
Passing Score
2
Modules
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Course Overview

Water covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface, yet much of it remains unmapped at the precision required for safe navigation, infrastructure design, and resource management. For geospatial professionals, understanding how depth is measured beneath the water surface is an increasingly essential skill — and the single beam echo sounder is where that knowledge begins.

This course introduces the fundamentals of single beam echo sounders 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 — Chair for Excellence in Hydrographic and Coastal Surveying at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi — the course grounds every concept in professional field practice.

Learners will explore the physics of sound in water, the sonar equation, sound velocity management, transducer beam geometry, and a practical comparison of single beam and multibeam data outputs. Throughout, the course emphasizes the critical decisions surveyors must make in the field and the important differences between survey-grade equipment and consumer-grade alternatives.

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Learning Outcomes

By completing this course, participants will be able to:

1

Explain how a single beam echo sounder measures water depth using acoustic pulses and the principles of SONAR, including the depth formula D = (c × t) ÷ 2.

2

Describe the components of the sonar equation and how signal-to-noise ratio affects the echo sounder's ability to identify the seafloor versus other targets in the water column.

3

Identify the sources and magnitude of depth error introduced by incorrect sound velocity values, including how errors scale with depth and the practical difference between fresh and salt water conditions.

4

Distinguish between narrow and wide beam transducers and explain how beam geometry, side lobes, footprint growth with depth, and vessel motion affect data accuracy.

5

Compare single beam and multibeam echo sounder data outputs and identify appropriate applications for each technology based on project requirements.

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Module Breakdown

MODULE 1

Echo Sounders and the Physics of Sound

 Single Beam Echo Sounder

  • What is bathymetry and why it matters
  • How the echo sounder transmits and receives the ping
  • The depth formula: D = (c × t) ÷ 2
  • How the ping differs from a land-based laser or EDM

The Sonar Equation

  • Signal Excess (SE) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio
  • Components: SL, TL, BS, NL, TA
  • Distinguishing seafloor from fish and noise
  • Implications for survey environment and equipment

MODULE 2

Sound Velocity, Beam Geometry, and Data Quality

Sound Velocity

  • How velocity varies with temperature, salinity, depth
  • Bar check vs. sound velocity profiler (SVP)
  • Depth error: fresh vs. salt water (up to 5.5 ft)
  • Why fish finders are not survey-grade instruments

 Beamforming and Transducer Geometry

  • Main beam vs. side lobes
  • Narrow beam (3–6°) vs. wide beam (15–25°+)
  • Beam footprint growth with depth
  • Surveying near structures: docks and pilings
  • Heave, pitch, and roll

Single Beam vs. Multibeam Data

  • Track line coverage vs. full swath coverage
  • Real-world dredging case study
  • What each system reveals about the seafloor
  • The timing problem: when datasets don't match
  • Choosing the right tool for the project

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

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

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Practical field context grounded in real hydrographic survey operations

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 ©