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Articles 
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
Side scan sonar is one of the most widely used and effective tools for underwater search operations. Its claim-to-fame is the ability to produce detailed pictures of underwater objects regardless of water clarity. Even in zero visibility the sonar produces high resolution images of everything on the bottom. Side scan has been extremely useful in helping to locate and identify a variety of targets from drowning victims to submerged vehicles and sunken vessels. Today many law enforcement agencies, rescue squads, and emergency management groups are seeking homeland defense grants to purchase this equipment.
The limitation of the side scan is that it only looks across the bottom. The angle of the transducers prevent the sonar from producing a clear image of a vertical surface, such as bridge supports, sea walls, or dams. The downward looking transducers also prevent scanning of objects on the surface, like the hull of a ship. With today’s heightened risk of terrorist attack on any front, and the escalating war on drugs, the agencies charged with public safety need to have this capability. To overcome the problem JW Fishers developed a side scan towfish with adjustable transducers. The angle of the transducers can be changed by rotating the tail section of the towfish. This allows the sonar to scan the hull of a ship for attached contraband compartments and inspect the face of a dam, bridge, or oil platform for explosive devices.
Already several departments have purchased Fishers side scans with the new adjustable transducers including the Escambia Sheriff’s Office in Pensacola, Florida and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Stillwater, Minnesota. "We’re very impressed with the side scan", says Jim Anderson of Washington County’s Water Recovery Unit. "On a recent training operation we took the sonar to a lake with a number of known submerged targets including sunken boats, several dive platforms, and a safe. It was the perfect location to get familiar with the equipment. I’ve done many dives in the lake and know the location of each underwater object and how it sits on the bottom. The sonar was easy to learn and operate, and it produced beautiful pictures of each target. I recorded the scans onto the computer’s hard drive which allowed me to review files back in the office. When going over the records I noticed things in the sonar images that I missed when we were in the middle of a search operation. It’s really nice to have the ability to capture the data, review it later, and email images to other team members and other departments."
A splashproof PC with the ultra bright display is available as an option for the system. It is ideal for small boat operation where the computer may be subjected to spray or moisture in the air. The ultra bright display makes it easy to see the screen even in brilliant sunlight or on night operations.
For more information on side scan sonars or any of Fishers underwater search systems go to http://www.jwfishers.com or contact Chris Combs at info@jwfishers.com.
