Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies the technical requirements for navigation and positioning, unmanned vehicle assembly, survey parameter setting, single-beam and multi-beam echo sounding, and data processing of seafloor mapping with marine unmanned vehicle, including unmanned surface vehicle (USV) and unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV).

This document is applicable to survey implementation, data processing of seafloor mapping with marine unmanned vehicles in estuaries, offshore and open sea areas. 

Purpose

Seafloor mapping is a fundamental marine survey activity, with results including bathymetric maps, seafloor topographic maps, and geomorphologic maps. These maps are extensively used in marine engineering construction, seabed resource exploration, and marine scientific research. Traditional methods of seafloor mapping include single-beam echo sounding and multi-beam echo sounding. Recently, unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) have been increasingly employed in seafloor mapping, enriching the technical methods and diversifying the survey platforms. These surveys now cover areas such as estuaries, coastal regions, and the open sea.

Currently, the technology for seafloor mapping using marine unmanned vehicles has matured and is widely applied in marine oil and gas exploration, seabed mineral resource exploration, offshore engineering design and construction, as well as undersea tunnel and pipeline installation. Recognition of this technology by relevant industries continues to grow. This standard is formulated based on the functions and characteristics of marine unmanned vehicles and the survey instruments they carry, specifically addressing the technical features, application environments, and functional requirements for seafloor mapping with marine unmanned vehicles.

The "Technical guidelines for seafloor mapping with marine unmanned vehicles" were developed to standardize the technical design, field survey procedures, data processing, and data output for seafloor mapping using USVs or UUVs equipped with single-beam or multi-beam echo sounders. These guidelines aim to enhance the quality of field surveys and the accuracy of seafloor mapping data.