System description
The Simrad ME70 is a high-resolution Multibeam scientific echo sounder with very low sidelobe levels. It is designed for collection of data from the water column. The ME70 combines the large and flexible sampling volume of the multibeam swath with the accuracy of the quantitative scientific echo sounder.
The ME70 was the world's first quantitative multibeam echo sounder for fishery research applications.
Image
The ME70 is designed for fishery research applications. It operates in the frequency range of 70 to 120 kHz in steps of 1 kHz using 256 transmitting and receiving channels. By adding bathymetry functionality to the standard system, the ME70 also provides high-resolution seabed mapping.
The ME70 Multibeam scientific echo sounder is designed for high operating flexibility. The system includes a wide fan of stabilized beams for fish behaviour studies, fish school characterization and other purposes. A sector of these beams can be set up as split beams providing data for single-target analysis such as target strength measurements and target tracking. The sector of calibrated narrow split beams with low side lobe levels and short pulse lengths allow for accurate biomass estimation very close to bottom. The ability to adjust the athwartship centre angle of the fan allows you to use the system for studying fish close to ridges. The design also allows you to use all the beams over the full frequency range pointing in one direction for frequency comparison.
Within the bandwidth of the transducer, the limits for beam steering, and the minimum achievable beam opening, you can select the directions, frequencies, and opening angles for the beams. You can set up the system to fit your requirements, and it will provide you with a real-time display for quality control of the current data acquisition. The system configuration can be tailored to any requirements, allowing for choice of beamwidths as well as transmission modes.
Two systems are available to expand the utility value of the ME70 Multibeam scientific echo sounder:
•  Bathymetric processor system for high-resolution seabed mapping
•  Element Data Logger for collection of high-volume element data
The bathymetry option provided for the ME70 allows you to use the ME70 not only as a scientific multibeam echo sounder for fishery research applications, but also as a multibeam echo sounder for seabed mapping. Additional hardware items are added to the basic ME70 system to provide this functionality, and the Seafloor Information System (SIS) software is applied as user interface.