Overview & Scope The presence of unexpected objects on or under the seabed can pose important problems for dredging, trenching, piling and all kinds of offshore construction works. Wreck detection surveys have been carried out prior to large dredging works, detecting numerous buried en semi-buried wrecks. Magnetometry enables the detection and positioning of iron containing objects (UXO’s, chains, wrecks…), located on or under the seabed while SideScanSonar results visualize the unburied portions located on the seafloor (e.g. wrecks). Skills and Capabilities | Gradiometer magnetometry - UXO detection |  | A large number UXO detection surveys have been carried out using gradient magnetometry, resulting in the detection of unexploded Naval Mines, bombs and grenades. |
| Side Scan Sonar - SSS |  | A side scan sonar is an instrument that uses ultrasonic fan-shaped pulses to produce high resolution images of the seafloor. Contrary to other methods, like seismic reflection, side scan sonar is entirely dedicated to bottom imaging. It is usually towed behind a boat and can fully cover large areas in a short time. It can be used to detect objects on, or characterize the nature of the bottom. The former can be done by examining and measuring the targets spotted on the data, and particularly the shadows they cast, the second by comparing areas with different intensity of reflection: the lesser the intensity, the softer the material on the bottom. - Detection and characterization of obstructions (e.g. objects, boat or car wrecks, anchors, pipelines, etc.)
- Pipe or cable surveys.
- Wreck and UXO Detection.
- Control and monitoring of rock dumping
- Seabed classification
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