Shallow Water Bathymetry Survey using an Autonomous Surface Vehicle

TL;DR

This paper presents a low-cost autonomous surface vehicle equipped with side-scan sonar for efficient shallow water bathymetry mapping, demonstrating its application in real-world lake survey scenarios.

Contribution

Introduction of a resilient, low-cost autonomous surface vehicle tailored for bathymetry data collection using side-scan sonar in shallow waters.

Findings

Successful bathymetry data collection from Powai Lake.

Demonstrated vehicle's resilience and adaptability in real-world conditions.

Cost-effective approach for environmental water body mapping.

Abstract

Accurate and cost effective mapping of water bodies has an enormous significance for environmental understanding and navigation. However, the quantity and quality of information we acquire from such environmental features is limited by various factors, including cost, time, security, and the capabilities of existing data collection techniques. Measurement of water depth is an important part of such mapping, particularly in shallow locations that could provide navigational risk or have important ecological functions. Erosion and deposition at these locations, for example, due to storms and erosion, can cause rapid changes that require repeated measurements. In this paper, we describe a low-cost, resilient, unmanned autonomous surface vehicle for bathymetry data collection using side-scan sonar. We discuss the adaptation of equipment and sensors for the collection of navigation, control, and bathymetry data and also give an overview of the vehicle setup. This autonomous surface vehicle has been used to collect bathymetry from the Powai Lake in Mumbai, India.