Indonesia is an archipelagic country that has a very large sea area with various seabed conditions. Data on the shape and state of the seabed is crucial to support shipping activities, port construction, marine resource exploration, and oceanographic research. One of the latest technologies used to map the seabed is the Multibeam Echosounder (MBES). This technology can produce bathymetric data with high accuracy and a wider coverage area compared to traditional methods.
What is a Multibeam Echosounder?
Multibeam Echosounder is a tool used in hydro-oceanographic surveys. The tool uses sound waves to measure how deep the ocean is and to map the shape of the seabed. This device works by emitting multiple sound signals simultaneously to the seabed in the form of a fan. The reflected sound waves are then received by the sensor and converted into information about the depth and shape of the seabed (Resda et al., 2021). MBES technology differs from single-beam echosounders that only measure depth at a single point under the vessel. MBES can produce hundreds to thousands of depth points at once, making the seabed mapping process faster and more efficient.
How a Multibeam Echosounder Works
A Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) works by sending sound waves to the seabed using a sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) system. The sound waves sent will be reflected by the seabed and objects in the water, and then the waves will be received again by the receiver on the MBES tool. The difference in time it takes for waves to reach is used to measure the depth of the ocean and the basic shape of the waters. The data obtained from the measurements is then processed using special software to make a more detailed and accurate visualization of the seabed (Ghazali et al., 2017).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Multibeam Echodounder
The main advantage of the Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) is its ability to produce highly detailed and accurate bathymetric data and can cover a large survey area. This makes the seabed mapping process more efficient. In addition, MBES can create images of the seabed in two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms. This makes it easier to analyze the shapes and structures that exist under the sea. However, this technology has relatively high operational costs and requires software and experts to process data. Data quality can also be affected by the state of waves in the sea and differences in sound speed in the water.
Conclusion
The Multibeam Echosounder is a technology that is critical to mapping the seabed today. This technology can produce very detailed, precise, and efficient ocean depth data. This technology is very important to help safety in shipping, research on the sea, and advances in marine technology in Indonesia. With technological advances for underwater surveys, it is hoped that the use of MBES will increase to help sustainably manage marine resources.
Bibliography
Ghazali, A., Pratomo, D. G., Geomatics, D. T., Engineering, F., and Ten, I. T. 2017. Background Citation No 2. 6(2): 4–9.
Resda, D. P., Lubis, M. Z., and Timbang, D. 2021. Mapping of the depth of the sea using multibeam. Journal of Integration, 13(1): 84–92.
