TruePix® is a popular technical mode exclusively available on all Sonic-V Series multibeam systems.
TruePix® vs Side Scan Sonar:
1. Accurate geolocation
TruePix® provides precise spatial positioning for each pixel of imagery, as the sonar’s position is tightly coupled with GNSS/INS sensors on the vessel. This enables centimeter-level geo-referencing of detected features, whereas side scan sonar is more prone to slant-range errors and layback uncertainties
2. Simultaneous bathymetry and imagery
TruePix® collects both high-resolution bathymetry and backscatter imagery in a single run, maximizing survey efficiency. Side scan sonar provides mainly imagery, requiring additional equipment or passes to acquire depth/bathymetry data
3. Water column data
TruePix® captures compact water column information, allowing detection and analysis of targets suspended in the water (large objects, gas plumes etc.), a feature not available with conventional side scan sonar
4. Uniform data quality and simpler processing
TruePix® creates uniform quality records with one sample per range bin per side, reducing file sizes and simplifying data handling compared to side scan data, which often contains overlapping records that require additional processing
5. High coverage rates
MBES systems sweep wide swaths, enabling faster and more complete area coverage than most towed side scan systems—this is particularly valuable for large or time-sensitive surveys
6. Superior performance in shallow and complex environments
Thanks to sophisticated beam-focusing, MBES with TruePix® can maintain accurate mapping and feature detection in shallow and complex terrain, where side scan may suffer from multipath interference, poor shadow contrast, or geo-referencing issues
7. Versatility
TruePix® can be easily enabled for multi-mission surveys, and it supports multispectral and pipeline inspection modes, enhancing its utility for characterization of the seafloor and infrastructure monitoring
Wreck debris
TruePix® delivers high resolution object detection on all Sonic-V Series systems
It’s effectiveness will depend on several factors such as system configuration, frequency and survey design.
TruePix® data is extracted independently of the bottom detection process, offering additional imagery suitable for detecting objects by visualizing both the water column and the seabed. The TruePix® technical mode can be enabled to your Sonic Series system remotely, anytime and anywhere. For further info, get in touch on r2support@r2sonic.com
Figure 5: TruePix® as SideScan in SonarWiz
