Field experience with a new sub-bottom investigation tool: Acoustic 3-D imaging of the sub-seabed

A new means to interrogate and image the sub-seabed has been developed comprising a conventional linear hydrophone array (beamforming) together with Inertial Navigation System (INS) stabilized Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) processing. The system, called the Sub-Bottom Imager, completed its first commercial work during 2011 in decommissioning, high voltage DC (HVDC) cable surveying, and marine archaeology applications with unprecedented results.