Overview

The next-generation real-time volumetric mapping and underwater spatial awareness tool - transforming subsea mapping from post-processed bathymetry into live volumetric spatial intelligence.

The Echoscope PIPE^® Wide-Area Volumetric Mapping technology, available, now on all Echoscope PIPE^® Full-Size and Echoscope PIPE^® C500 sonars, represents the next evolution of real-time 3D volumetric sonar mapping, combining proven Echoscope^®-derived technology with ultra-wide-area acoustic mapping capability across swaths of up to 125 degrees across-track.

Traditional multibeam systems are fundamentally optimized for sequential bathymetric surface acquisition, where the primary objective is to generate a seabed map for later analysis. In contrast, the Echoscope PIPE^® WAVM technology is designed to simultaneously monitor a live underwater scene with moving targets in real time while continuously generating true real-time 3D volumetric data across an expanded field of view, enabling simultaneous visualization of vertical structures, subsea infrastructure, water-column targets, and seafloor environments within a single coherent acoustic scene.

This allows operators to move beyond conventional “survey-after-the-fact” workflows and instead interact with a persistent live 3D acoustic representation of the subsea environment as operations are taking place.
This wide-area volumetric imaging and mapping technology can, for example, provide an instantaneous mapped seafloor coverage area of approximately 1,300 m² in only 25 m water depth, while simultaneously maintaining persistent real-time volumetric observation of the full water column and surrounding underwater environment.

The system also incorporates our patented ERSA (Enhanced Resolution Split Aperture) beamforming technology (patent US12,566,264), enabling significantly improved beam detection accuracy, angular precision, and target localization performance across the entire swath — including at extreme steering angles where conventional beamforming approaches typically experience degradation in resolution and phase coherence. By utilizing advanced split-aperture processing techniques, ERSA maintains high-fidelity target definition, improved edge-of-swath performance, and enhanced volumetric consistency throughout the full acoustic field of view.

In addition to real-time 3D volumetric imaging and mapping, the system provides simultaneously steerable full-time series acoustic data products for:

• 2D Imaging Sonar Operation
• Acoustic Profiling and Cross Sectional Analysis
• Narrow Beam Imaging

This enables concurrent acquisition of high-resolution volumetric mapping data together with focused application-specific acoustic views throughout the survey, maintaining persistent full water-column observation without compromising update rate or spatial fidelity.

Leveraging adaptive variable transmit steering, the sonar can dynamically optimize acoustic energy distribution toward mission-critical regions of interest — including vertical assets such as quay walls, monopiles, risers, pilings, vessel hulls, and subsea infrastructure — while simultaneously maintaining wide-swath high-resolution seafloor mapping performance. The steerable architecture allows operators to prioritize target regions and inspection geometries in real time while preserving the high target density, volumetric resolution, and low-latency responsiveness associated with standard Echoscope® systems.