Analysis of Bathymetry Mapping Using Kongsberg’s Deepwater Multibeam Echosounder EM-304 (Oceanx Young Explorer Programme 2023 Case Study in Azores-Gibraltar Waters)

Abstract This study evaluates the quality of deepwater bathymetric data collected using the Kongsberg EM-304 Multibeam Echosounder compared to GEBCO datasets, addressing the need for high-resolution seabed mapping in the Azores-Gibraltar shipping channel, a region critical for navigation, security, and environmental management. Utilizing the OceanXplorer research vessel during the YEP 2023 Ocean-X programme, the EM-304 system, enhanced by tools like SIS5 and Starlink GNSS, successfully mapped depths up to 5800 meters with a 5-kilometer swath width. The analysis, conducted with Qimera, Fledermaus, and ArcGIS, reveals that the EM-304 outperforms GEBCO data in accuracy and resolution, benefiting from real-time corrections and ellipsoidal reference configurations. This study highlights the EM-304’s effectiveness in providing precise seabed data, emphasizing its role in enhancing global bathymetric charts and supporting applications like safe navigation, scientific research, and environmental conservation in deepwater regions.