Products - Remote SensingProduct Spotlight Remote Control BoatsA remote control boat equipped ly, military helicopters were recruited Recorded data are analyzed in real-with a SonTek M9 Acoustic Doppler to help drop boulders into the hole, time by the SonTek HydroSurveyor Pro? ler (ADP) was employed with but it soon became clear that greater software to produce accurate depth HydroSurveyor software to create a volumes were required so a temporary and velocity measurements in addi-3D map of a damaged (and still sub- road was quickly constructed along tion to 3-D maps of the water body. merged) ? ood barrier, following seri- the barrier so that ? ll material could be The Agency’s Chris Train said, “The ous damage that took place last De- delivered by truck. operation of the ARC-Boat was a great cember. Data from the survey enabled Unfortunately, the extent of the dam- success; we were able to conduct a the Environment Agency to act swiftly age to the submerged ? ood bank was complete survey during about one and effectively to repair the damage not visible, even at low tide, so it was hour of slack water at the top of the and thereby protect local industry and necessary to be able to survey the dam- tide. As it happened, this was under-residents. age in order to be able to calculate the taken at night, but we attached navi-Extreme weather conditions and the type and volume of material that would gation lights to the ARC boat, so the highest tide for 150 years resulted in be necessary for the repair operation. timing was of no consequence.serious damage to a ? ood bank at Seal Traditionally, such surveys would “The HydroSurveyor software cre-Sands near Billingham in the North have been conducted manually from ated a superb map of the damage and East of England. A large hole, approxi- boats using gauging poles, but the En- demonstrated that the hole was signi? -mately 60 to 80m across, was scoured vironment Agency now employs re- cantly deeper than we had anticipated, from the barrier and enormous quan- mote control boats that have a range of so this data was essential in helping us tities of seawater ? ooded into an area 200m, so operators are able to remain to plan the remediation work.of marshland, which is an important on the bank. “The main advantages of the ARC-wildlife habitat. The M9 ADP on-board the remote Boat/HydroSurveyor system are the However, this area is also adjacent to controlled ARC-Boat is a 5-beam speed with which a survey is under-a number of high value industrial as- depth sounding and velocity pro? ling taken, the quality of the data, and im-sets, so this breach in the ? ood defens- device that scans the bed as the boat proved safety because it is not neces-es represented a serious threat. Initial- is guided across the water’s surface. sary for staff to work on the water.” The ARC Boat and (inset), navigating the ARC Boat.May 201446 MTRMTR #4 (34-49).indd 46 MTR #4 (34-49).indd 46 5/12/2014 2:17:07 PM5/12/2014 2:17:07 PM