Topic outline

  • Acoustic Multibeam Hydrographic Survey Systems

    Credits: 5 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    This course provides guidance for the calibration, quality control, and quality assurance of multibeam survey systems used on surveys of Federal navigation projects and water control structures.  Only general operating principles are outlined in this course.  Comprehensive instructions for installing and operating specific multibeam systems, including the data acquisition, processing, and editing of data from these systems, are found in manufacturer's operating manuals and software processing manuals specific to those systems.

    Topics:

    • Scope / Applications of Acoustic Multibeam Survey Systems
    • Principles of Multibeam Depth Measurement
    • Depth Measurement Principles
    • Physical and Electronic Beamforming
    • Interferometric systems
    • Beam Spacing and Footprint Size
    • Underwater Structure Investigation Surveys
    • Configuring Multibeam Transducers
    • Fixed Hull-Mounted Systems
    • Through-Hull Transducer Mountings
    • Bow, Stern, and Side Mounted Transducers
    • Quality Control Procedures for Multibeam Systems
    • Vessel Squat/Settlement, Draft, and Datum Variations
    • Calibrations, Testing, and Checks
    • Multibeam Survey Data Collection, Editing, and Processing
    • Quality Assurance Performance Tests on Multibeam Systems
    • Summary of Multibeam QC and QA Criteria.

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: This course is intended for professional land surveyors, coastal, civil, water resource, environmental, petroleum, and other engineering professional whose job description may require an intermediate knowledge of hydrography surveying principles using multibeamed acoustical surveying principles.
    Publication Source: USACE

    Donald Parnell, PE

    • Topic 1