USCG uses side-scan sonar to look for
bridge damage
The
South Saskatchewan River was not the only major North American river
with flood problems last summer. The United States Coast Guard (USCG)
spent a number of days on the Missouri River during extreme high water
last year, checking out bridge piers and pipelines for the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
road departments in Nebraska and Iowa.
According to the Lincoln
Journal Star, the USCG boat crew used side-scan sonar equipment “to
create an intense digital image of the water's scouring effect on the
channel and bridge piers. It is the same high technology that is used
to find sunken shipwrecks.”
There was cause for concern: in late
June, authorities had to close the Decatur bridge because of fears
scouring had eroded some of the its approach on the Iowa side of the
river. Scouring as deep as 50 feet was found along bridge piers.
USGS
hydrologist Ben Dietsch described the so-called side-scan sonar they
use as an amazing scientific instrument that makes their job much
easier than earlier conventional sonars: "It's like having a hundred
fish finders all at once," Dietsch said, pointing out that the
side-scan sonar covers large areas, creates high-resolution images and
gathers very accurate data from the river bottom.
When combined
with sediment samples from the river, the side-scan data provides
researchers with an idea of how much and what types of sand and other
sediment are moving down the river, showing how the river is reacting
to the flood load.
| Photo Credit: Lincoln Journal Star
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We solve problems - and
deliver solutions - on Saskatchewan waterways!
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Barge completes first season
Shearwater
Marine Services' new hydraulic jack-up barge, shown here on the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon,
weighs in at about 15,000 pounds and is capable of carrying additional
machinery weighing up to 9 tons.The 12’ x 30’ x 3’ prototype was
designed and built by Shearwater in close collaboration with Dinky
Service of Saskatoon, which was responsible for all steel fabrication.
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If you are planning a project
which involves rivers, lakes or ponds,
SHEARWATER
MARINE SERVICES LTD. CAN HELP !!
With over 50 years of combined experience in industrial
and military marine applications, Shearwater
Marine Services coordinates and supplies specialized services,
equipment and personnel for industrial and commercial
marine projects in Saskatchewan:
* Sidescan sonar and bathymetry
* Project consulting
* Reclamation and clean-up support
* Infrastructure assessment support
* Safety boats and crews for over-water construction
* Push-boats
and barges for
construction projects
Our
Health
and Safety Policy Statement
Shearwater
Marine Services Ltd. is committed to ensuring a healthy and safe
working environment for all our staff and subcontractors.
We comply with, and require all our staff and
subcontractors to comply with, the regulations of the Government of
Saskatchewan Occupational
Health and Safety Act.
Additionally, Shearwater Marine Services Ltd. operates in full
compliance with all Small Commercial Vessel regulations as required
by Transport Canada.
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