Bruce’s Legacy uses side scan sonar to search for drowned victims, vehicles, evidence and anything that needs to be found underwater. We went with what we feel is the best system on the market; a System 3900 Digital Side Scan Sonar.
The L-3 Klein 3900 system is an extremely high-resolution digital sonar for use in Search & Recovery missions which require a portable side scan sonar system. The model has a dual-frequency capability with 445 kHz offering excellent range and resolution and 900 kHz which offers higher resolution of identified targets. The standard system configuration comes complete with a splash proof Transceiver Processing Unit (TPU), custom-configured laptop and 50 m of lightweight tow cable. The System 3900 towfish electronics are housed in a stainless steel body with a phosphorescent finish for easy underwater identification.
Click here for a demonstration of how sonar works thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Side-scan sonar is used to efficiently create an image of large areas of the sea floor, lakes and river beds. It can be used to conduct surveys, locate objects, detect debris, obstructions, the status of pipelines and cables, fisheries research, dredging operations, environmental studies and for military applications including mine detection.
Side-scan uses a sonar device that emits conical or fan-shaped pulses down toward the seafloor across a wide angle perpendicular to the path of the sensor through the water, which may be towed from a surface vessel or submarine, or mounted on the ship’s hull. The intensity of the acoustic reflections from the seafloor of this fan-shaped beam is recorded in a series of cross-track slices. When stitched together along the direction of motion, these slices form an image of the sea bottom within the swath (coverage width) of the beam.