RUDE is outfitted with survey systems to acquire and process single-beam hydrographic, shallow water multibeam (SWMB) bathymetric and side scan sonar (SSS) data. Nearly all of the components on board RUDE are commercial off the shelf systems. The following pieces of equipment help the RUDE carry out its survey mission with a high degree of accuracy: Trimble DGPS unit and Applanix Position and Orientation System with an integrated Internal Motion Sensor and GPS system.

Single-beam Hydrographic Data: The RUDE collects single beam data using an Odom Echotrac DF-3200 dual frequency echosounder. This instrument is capable of operating in high frequency and low frequency simultaneously. Single-beam data is digitally recorded using window based Hypack Survey software. Not only does Hypack record single-beam data, but also allows the helmsmen to steer the survey lines.

Shallow Water Multibeam Hydrographic Data: RUDE operates a Reson 8125 shallow water multibeam system. This system operates at 455 KHz with a 120 degree across track swath and 240 beams along its swath. This multibeam system can integrate GPS data and attitude data to produce high resolution and highly accurate 3-D bathymetric data.

Side Scan Sonar Data: Finally, Rude operates high-resolution Klein 5500 side scan sonar. Unlike the Reson 8125, this instrument does not provide bathymetric soundings but produces a 2-D image of a large area. These images show shadows, which can be interpreted as contacts with significant heights.

Both Multibeam data and side scan sonar data are digitally recorded in XTF format using ISIS Data Acquisition software package, which is also Windows based.

Once digitally recorded, the XTF data goes through a rigorous processing phase using CARIS HIPS/SIPS software to QC the data and incorporate bathymetric data with sound velocity and tides data.

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