Fisher SBP-1 Sub Bottom Profiler

A Sub Bottom Profiler Sonar is a very effective tool to identify and characterize layers of sediment or rock under the seafloor. The Sub Bottom Profiler is similar to that of a simple echo sounder. A transducer releases a sound pulse vertically downwards towards the seafloor, and a receiver records the return of the pulse once it has been reflected off the seafloor. Unlike a simple echo sounder, parts of the sound pulse will penetrate the seafloor and reflect the different sub-bottom layers or strata layers. This will show any density disturbance, which will indicate to the user that there is something foreign beneath the surface.

Fishers’ SBP-1  sonar has an advantage over most other competitions. This unit is either pole mountable for shallow water searches or boat tow-able for search in deeper areas allowing superior versatility for the end-user. The SBP-1 system includes the sonar towfish constructed of corrosion-proof, high impact PVC, 150’ of cable (additional lengths are available up to 1,000 feet), the topside sonar processor box and a laptop computer pre-loaded with the JW Fishers SONAR VIEW for Sub Bottom Profiler software. The 36-inch-long by 24-inch-wide towfish provides a stable platform for the sonar transducer allowing the best possible images to be obtained. The SBP-1 is capable of penetrating up to 130 feet into the seabed. The sonar beam reflects off any solid objects below the seafloor and sent topside for display and storage on the computer.  You then see an image of a target of a different density than the surrounding substrate.

More Details

Sub Bottom Profilers (SBP) will identify the thickness of different strata layers below the ocean floor. Most importantly, for our application, it will also show any density disturbance within a strata layer. It’s the density disturbance we are after; it indicates something foreign within the strata layer. The SBP-1 has the advantage of being pole mountable for shallow water projects or boat towable (up to 1,000 feet of cable available). The fish is towed 5 to 10 feet off the bottom to keep the sonar beam narrow. The Sub Bottom Profiler system comes complete with Sub Bottom tow fish, 150 feet of cable, topside Sonar Processor Box, a GPS, and a laptop computer with Fishers Sonar View software.

An optional Panasonic Toughbook® is available for small, open boat operations (see image on the side). The 10.1″ XGA sunlight-viewable LED 1024 x 768 resistive touchscreen computer is MILSTD-810G certified (6′ drop, shock, vibration, rain, dust, sand, altitude, freeze/thaw, high/low temperature, temperature shock, humidity, explosive atmosphere).