• Hydraq QQ1000 to be launched at Oi2020

• Designed for improved acoustic metrology
• Measures anthropogenic and environmental noise over a wide bandwidth
• Provides sensor depth and orientation monitoring
• Delivers vibration monitoring
• Electronic self noise < SS0

Seiche, one of the world’s leaders in Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), is launching a cutting-edge digital hydrophone developed in partnership with UK-based multinational defense technology company QinetiQ. Due to be unveiled at Oi2020 (17-19 March, London EXCEL), Hydraq QQ1000, is a ground-breaking combination of acoustic and auxiliary sensors suitable for seabed, rising cable, or suspended cable deployment.

Providing enhanced metrology, the instrumented hydrophone has applications spanning underwater noise measurement and environmental use for Port and Harbour Authorities, including compliance with environmental legislation, through to recording of marine mammals, generic noise pollution, and identification of individual vessel sound signatures at sea, which are of value to the maritime and defense sectors.

Using innovative technologies, the new Hydraq QQ1000 sensor meets the challenges of accurately measuring radiated noise and man-made noise pollution in the marine environment. The acoustic measurement bandwidth is compatible with current noise standards, including ISO, DNV and STANAG.

Combining auxiliary sensors with the primary acoustic sensor, Hydraq QQ1000 provides a unique solution which ensures that sensor orientation and vibration can be addressed, safeguarding accurate measurement. Hydraq QQ1000 also incorporates a very low-noise switched gain hydrophone amplifier - preventing noise quality degradation - with self noise levels below Knudsen Sea State 0, and utilizes wideband PZT sensors to enhance acoustic signals.

Uncertainty in sensor orientation has been addressed by incorporating a magnetic compass, which augments the three-axis accelerometer giving attitude and bearing. This overcomes issues experienced by traditional hydrophones, principally affecting high frequency measurements occurring in rising-cable deployments - such as measurement errors associated with a hydrophone’s variable polar response - that are influenced by tidal flow, or caused by hydrophone misalignment during seabed deployment.

Employing a sensitive three-axis accelerometer, Hydraq QQ1000 measures hydrophone vibration caused by proximity to propulsion systems or Scholte waves at the water/seabed interface.* These are low-frequency effects that contaminate acoustic measurement and need to be measured and accounted for.

Hydraq QQ1000 also acts as a sensor for hydrodynamic pressure variation. It incorporates an accurate high-resolution pressure sensor to provide hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressure, giving direct measurement of water depth at the hydrophone. Capable of resolving pressure variations of 1mm equivalent water depth when fitted with the 3 bar FSD pressure sensor (30m max measurement depth), the sensor has sufficient resolution for hydrostatic pressure variation in proximity to underway ships. In many cases, a direct measurement of hydrophone depth enhances 3D position fixing, as acoustic determination of depth depends on reflections from a variable or ‘unreliable’ surface.

Mark Burnett, CEO at Seiche Water Technology Group, commented: “We are excited to launch Hydraq QQ1000, a new acoustic monitoring solution which is ideally suited to ensuring compliance with expanding environmental legislation.

“With ports such as the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority leading the way in underwater noise mitigation management plans, we see an increasing appetite for technology that can monitor multiple aspects of underwater noise enabling mitigation measures to be put in to place that reduce impact on marine mammals. Added to applications that are of value to monitoring acoustic signatures of vessels, we believe that Hydraq QQ1000 will generate a lot of interest at Oi2020.”

James Nicholson, Chief Scientist of Underwater Threat Representation and Signature Services at QinetiQ, added: “The development of this device is based on many years’ experience of radiated noise measurement in both deep and shallow water environments”. Seiche will be available on stand P501 at Oi2020 (17-19 March, London EXCEL) To find out more about Seiche’s range or underwater measurement and acoustic systems, visit the Seiche and Autonaut websites.

Story by Seiche

*Traditional hydrophones are susceptible to vibration as well as the acoustic stimulus for which they are intended. Vibration can be imparted to traditional hydrophones by the propulsion system of nearby vessels. Hydraq QQ1000’s 3-axis accelerometer resolves vibration components that would contaminate the low-frequency acoustic signature, additionally acting as a primary sensor for seabed vibration.