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Home > Diving Equipment > Interferometric Sonar & Side Scan Equipment/Sonar > Shark Survey Assistant Software
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 The scene is set. There's been an incident on the water and the resulting evidence has slipped beneath the waves. Search and recovery are called to the scene and immediately deploy a sidescan sonar for a wide area search to determine its possible location. The software on the topside controller records the search track and coverage area and various targets are noted by the operator.  While the divers suit up for a closer investigation, a tripod mounted scanning sonar, connected to the same topside controller and operated under the same software, is lowered to the bottom in the vicinity of the previously recorded targets. 
 

As with the sidescan, just a single plug connection and the scanning sonar is ready to go.  As soon as it is in place on the bottom, the target data recorded in the sidescan software is also indicated on the scanning sonars screen.  The divers are ready to be guided to the targets, by the topside operator using the directional information provided by the scanning sonar. Alternatively, the data may be wirelessly uploaded to the divers hand-held sonar and guidance system and used to direct him straight to the target.
 

The system is called SeaSAR. Originally designed by Shark Marine Technologies Inc., for one of the largest search and recovery agencies in North America, SeaSAR is by far, the most all encompassing software and topside controller, commercially available. The computer controller, software, power supplies and sonar interfaces are all housed in a single 20" x 17" x 8" rugged case. The sonars each connect through their own individual, waterproof connection on the side of the case and are instantly connected to both the computer controller and power, and ready for operation. During the search, all of the collected data is processed in real-time. This allows for immediate on-site operational decision making and eliminates the need for time consuming post processing.  Upon completion of the operation, the weatherproof computer may be removed from it's dock in the controller case and taken in-house for archiving the collected data and report generation.  The entire system operates from any readily available 12VDC power source. An optional 120VAC adapter is also available.

  
While the SeaSAR system may be configured to work with various manufacturers sonars and other detection instruments, certain aspects of it have been designed specifically to communicate with Shark Marine Technologies' Navigator, diver-held sonar and guidance system. The Navigators Divelog software accepts target data from the SeaSAR controller and will display the selected target as a "red dot" on the Divelog compass rose. All that is left for the diver to do, is follow the "red dot" to the target previously located by the sidescan or scanning sonar. The Navigator's multibeam sonar will aid the diver in locating a distant target as well as in identification of it in poor visibility. If the diver is tethered to the topside controller, the operator will be able to view whatever the diver is seeing on his Navigator display.

The SeaSAR system has been designed to be "Quick and Easy". When time is of the essence, SeaSAR is ready. Open the case, plug it in, turn it on and go! It's graphical display makes switching between sonar screens a one touch operation. Each different sonar connection is clearly marked on the controller and each sonar is connected by a single cable. The built in GPS begins tracking on startup while the layback feature allows for accurate towfish mapping. An optional rechargeable battery pack and numerous other accessories are also available.

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