Geophysics and Mapping Platform (GeMaP)
The Geophysics Mapping Platform (GeMaP) is provided by the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) on a competitive basis. It is based around a two multibeam echosounder systems (namely, . Teledyne Reson SeaBat 7101 and R2Sonic 2026). The platform has grown beyond the marine space into freshwater using its Lawrence Elite 9Ti (3 in 1 Transducer).
Geophysics and Mapping Platform (GeMaP)
By means of a pole, our transducer systems are deployed off the side of the boat to send sound pulses down to the bottom of the water body and then listen for an echo. The boat sails up and down over a region being mapped sending pulses and receiving echoes via the transducer. A bathymetric (measurement of water depth) chart of what lies beneath the water body can be created revealing what cannot be seen by naked eye. Using this platform, large areas of the Seabed, Lakes and River-Estuary can be surveyed in high resolutions.
For the Teledyne Reson SeaBat 7101 each echo is a measurement of range (two-way-travel time) across 512soundings per ping with hundreds to thousands of depth soundings. For the R2Sonic 2026 each echo is a measurement of range (two-way-travel time) across 1024 soundings per ping, specified to operate at ±850 m below mean seal level. For the Lawrence Elite 9Ti (3 in 1 Transducer) although the depth to bottom is measured as singlebeam, the sidescan feature however provides high-resolution of what lies beneath the waters.
Socio-economic implications
- The seafloor is the foundation of the Blue Economy
- Understanding and mapping is required to sustainably develop fisheries, oil and gas industry and marine mining
- Understanding and mitigating coastal erosion
- Understanding, monitoring and management of freshwater systems benthic habitats
Users
- Seven institutions and a growing number of partners
Future
- Extension of depth capabilities
- Sub-surface profiling
- Side-scan sonar
Functionality
- Marine systems: Multibeam echosounder and navigation systems that create high resolution 3D terrain models of the seafloor
- Freshwater system: bathymetric and sidescan data to create high resolution baseline maps of river-estuary bed
Transformation & Capacity Development
- Growing an under-capacitated discipline
Funders
- DSTI, NRF-SAIAB
