Automated acoustic data collection experiments using a directional projector system: Clyde Sea August 1997

As part of a CEC MAST 3 project entitled PROSIM, (propagation channel simulator), the Ocean Systems Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University was given the task of planning and performing acoustic data gathering experiments off the west coast of Scotland, in the Clyde due west of Ayr, in the summer of 1997. The PROSIM project has as its aim the development of a software channel model simulator that will be able to predict or simulate the effect of a broadband audio frequency source (400 Hz to 15 kHz), in shallow water acoustic channels, at realistic long ranges. Sea surface, sea bottom and propagation effects are included in this simulator design. The University of Wales Marine Science Laboratories had the task of collecting oceanographic data during these trials. Acoustic and oceanographic data collected during these (and other) trials are used to assist in the validation of the PROSIM channel simulator. Selected data are also supplied to the UK Oceanographic Data Centre where it is available for use by EC acoustics researchers. Much of the receive equipment, both acoustic and data recording had been developed during a previous CEC MAST 2 project which had used omni-directional acoustic projectors in the 20 kHz to 80 kHz band. Under this project entitled EEVMAC (European experimental validated model for acoustic channels) a high level control strategy based on a LABVIEW environment had been developed which allowed full PC control over both the transmit and receive ships experimental equipment