Simrad has expanded its scientific echo sounder portfolio with the introduction of the new multi-transceiver Simrad EK15.
With the ability to connect up to 15 fixed or mobile transceivers by cable or over a wireless network, the new Simrad EK15 is suitable for a wide range of applications from fish stock assessment and fish protection to river surveys, environmental monitoring and offshore oil and gas operations.
The Simrad EK15 is based on a small and ruggedised single beam transceiver and a dedicated transducer. The operational frequency is 200kHz, which ensures very high resolution and accuracy, with easy built in, in situ calibration. By using multiple transceivers in parallel with either simultaneous or sequential pinging it is possible to monitor large areas with only a single echo sounder system.
The system can be put to use in a wide variety of environments: lakes, fjords, harbours, shallow marine, rivers, and in aquaculture fish cages for continuous monitoring of fish behaviour, vertical distribution of fish, fish escape, food waste and environment.
For more than two years, Simrad EK15 prototypes have been put to test by Norwegian industrial aquaculture companies for monitoring purposes. The results have been very successful.
The Simrad EK15 has also been tested and proven suitable for a number of other critical applications, including; hydropower dams, where an array of EK15 transceivers can create an acoustic fence to monitor fish approaching water inlets; and river surveys, where multiple Simrad EK15 transducers can be used to monitor fish migration.
