Hydrography extends beyond the mapping of navigation hazards. It also applies in a wider context for the mapping of seafloors, lakes or rivers while performing a variety of operations such as dredging, pipe line and cable route surveys, harbor monitoring, or environmental surveys. Each type of survey has its own requirements and specifications, but globally the tools remain the same. Some applications (e.g., search and recovery surveys) may benefit from the availability of a fully processed data set in real-time for modification of survey plans according to observations.

An important point to remember is that efficient surveying requires not only good sensors but also survey planning, data management and processing charting tools. All of these requirements can be fulfilled within the suite of Triton software.

Real-time Processing

A fundamental benefit of real-time processing is a much better assessment of data quality. The final quality of a multibeam survey relies on the individual quality of each sensor's data. While the monitoring of each individual sensor provides an elementary quality check, a more accurate check of the integrated data set is in the form of a preliminary bathymetric chart. Real-time processing is the best way to verify sensor and time-stamping integrity.

Real-time processing does not mean that post-processing of the data is completely suppressed but a fundamental cost and time reduction can be achieved by having a much better understanding of the data set to process. The result of MB-DTM RT™ is a digital terrain model that serves as an effective quality control tool during the acquisition process.

Automated Processing

The volume of data associated with modern multibeam systems requires efficient, automated processing that allows user interaction to be focused on difficult analytical cases. Beyond our standard automated filtering options for soundings, Triton is looking at incorporating information gained from sidescan acoustic imagery analysis to further push automated multibeam processing capabilities. One idea is to use the automated feature detection algorithms developed for acoustic backscatter imagery to determine potential areas of strong topographic change.

The Bathy+Plus Concept

Triton has developed interfaces for all existing multibeam transducers. The Bathy+Plus™ concept is designed for organizations with an existing multibeam who would like to upgrade to a comprehensive data acquisition and management system. Triton's suite of software is designed to address all aspects of hydrographic surveying, including survey planning, real-time data quality control, full data processing, and a variety of data analysis and display options. We emphasize real-time processing and display of bathymetric data to provide the ultimate assurance of data quality and seafloor coverage.

The HydroSuite™ Concept

Triton HydroSuite™ is a turnkey concept based on customer requests for a single-source solution to purchasing a multibeam system. The emphasis here is on providing a complete system for conducting multibeam surveys and proper training for setting up the equipment, acquiring and processing the data, and analyzing the results.

Towards this end Triton has designed a five-step integration process as part of the HydroSuite™ package. This integration strategy stems from the fact that all vessels or survey platforms are unique, and that each customer conducts a survey in a different manner. The process begins with a pre-installation visit to assess mounting issues and discuss survey objectives, and concludes with fully-trained operators on the integrated system. A complete set of documents is provided for all installation, testing, and training stages.

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