Marine and Rapid Transit Instrumentation
Information on systems engineering and manufacturing in the fields of hydrographic survey equipment, seabed classification products and electronics for rapid transit systems. Quester Corp
Multibeam echo sounders (MBES), like other sonar systems, transmit sound energy and analyze the return signal (echo) that has bounced off the seafloor or other objects. Multibeam sonars emit sound waves from directly beneath a ship's hull to create fan-shaped coverage of the seafloor.
These systems measure and record the time for the acoustic signal to travel from the transmitter (transducer) to the seafloor (or object) and back to the receiver.. Multibeam sonars produce a “swath” of soundings (i.e., depths) to make sure of full coverage of an area. The coverage area on the seafloor is dependent on the depth of the water, generally two to four times the water depth.
Many MBES systems are capable of recording acoustic backscatter data. Multibeam backscatter is intensity data that can be procedureed to develop low resolution imagery. Backscatter is co-registered with the bathymetry data and is usually used to assist with bathymetric data interpretation and post-processing.
As digital technology continues to wiggle its way into ever increasing A/V systems, it’s intriguing to find out applications where analog composite video is still the best value and selection for the job. One recent example of this involves a specifically challenging installation of audio and video surveillance systems on thirty-four light rail vehicles belonging to the GCRTA -- Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority.
While there can be no such thing as a routine rail car install, the one of a kind requirements and complicated logistics for this particular project rapidly narrowed the field of interested integrators. Among other requirements, the project called for each of 34 LRVs -- Light Rail Vehicles to be equipped with wireless color video transmission and recording, wireless intercoms, and an automated switching and control infrastructure. The integrator, Doan Pyramid LLC, chose Extron to provide all of the matrix switching and audio amplification for this project.
Hydroacoustics is a unspecific term for the study and application of sound in water. Hydroacoustics, utilizing SONAR technology, is most generally used for detection, assessment, and monitoring of underwater physical and biological objects. Hydroacoustics can be utilized to detect the depth of a water body (bathymetry), as well as the presence or absence, abundance, distribution, size, and behavior of underwater plants and animals. Active hydroacoustic sensing involves making a sound and listening for the echo, hence the usual name for the device, echo sounder or echosounder.