NORBIT Subsea has introduced Layered Media Detection, a new optional capability for its WINGHEAD X Midwater multibeam sonar system designed for hydrographic surveys in complex sediment environments.
By combining concurrent detection processes across multiple frequency bands within a single broadband acoustic signal, the system enables surveyors to simultaneously identify fluid mud layers and the underlying navigable bottom during a single multibeam survey. This multi-frequency approach distinguishes sediment layers while maintaining high-resolution bathymetric performance.
Unlike traditional single-beam methods that provide measurements only along individual survey lines, LMD provides continuous bathymetric coverage across the entire survey swath. This enables hydrographic surveyors to evaluate larger survey areas more efficiently and make decisions with greater confidence using continuous, high-resolution bathymetric information.
The release also introduces the WINGHEAD X Midwater, bringing NORBIT’s long-range midwater multibeam technology into the configurable WINGHEAD X platform. Users can tailor the system to their survey requirements by selecting hardware, integrated GNSS/INS options, and software capabilities including LMD, creating a flexible solution for applications ranging from conventional hydrographic surveys to operations in ports, rivers, and estuaries affected by suspended sediments.
Peter Eriksen, CEO of NORBIT Subsea, said, “With Layered Media Detection, we’re enabling surveyors to explore beneath complex sediment layers while maintaining the efficiency and coverage advantages of multibeam surveying. The result is more information, greater productivity and better-informed decisions—empowering our customers to Explore More.“
