Recommendations for Utilizing Sonar Systems in Waterfront Facility Inspection and Assessment

In the evolving landscape of marine engineering and underwater inspection, various sonar tools are increasingly requested and utilized for their potential to provide cost-effective, safely obtained, and highly detailed inspection data. Peering through turbid waters and creating highly detailed images, sonar systems can provide global perspectives that may otherwise not be achieved from diving alone. Through the examination of six real-world case studies, this paper offers a summary of the capabilities and limitations of multiple sonar systems and diving inspections, clearly demonstrating that various techniques are required to meet the varied challenges of underwater structural inspection. With this knowledge in hand, sonar operators, waterfront inspectors, ports and maritime engineers, and facility owners/managers can plan a well-rounded waterfront inspection program leveraging a combination of tools and techniques best to fit the goals and requirements of the survey.