Echo sounders are a type of Sound Navigation and Ranging (SONAR) device used to determine water depth as well as sound speed by recording the time interval between emission and pulse return. Following the Titanic disaster in 1912, German physicist Alexander Behm developed the technique of echo sounding to detect icebergs and measure sea depth. Furthermore, in 1970s, the dual-beam technique was invented, allowing direct fish size in-situ through target strength estimation, followed by the development of the first portable split-beam hydro acoustic system for better accuracy and less variable estimation. Single beam echo sounders offer a wide range of features, including frequency agility to support existing transducer installations, support for tried-and-true thermal record printing, and modern PC screen-based interfaces. However, with the evolution of multi-beam echo sounders (MBES), systems now have enhanced capabilities such as pulse length, number of beams and coverage, and operating frequency, allowing them to be used in new areas of application.
The global Echo Sounder market is segmented on the basis of Product Type, Usage, Frequency Range, Application, and Region. Based on type, the market is divided into Single Beam Echo Sounder and Multi-Beam Echo Sounder. In terms of Usage, the market is categorized into Fix and Portable. On the basis of Frequency Range, the market is divided into Below 30 kHz, 30 to 100 kHz, and Above 100 kHz. Geographically, the market is analyzed across several regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, Middle East & Africa (LAMEA).
COVID-19 impact analysis
The current COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on the echo sounders market, with manufacturing activities being temporarily halted across major manufacturing hubs, resulting in significant production slowdown. People are becoming significantly more isolated as a result of increased restrictions on public meetings and travel. Due to supply chain delays, stock market instability, halting of airlines, business dealings in the echo sounder industry are also feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has directly impacted production and demand of echo sounder causing supply chain and market disruption. As airports are shut down due to lockdown restrictions, the use of echo sounder is halted, negatively impacting the echo sounder market share.
Top impacting factors
Single beam echo sounders offer a wide range of features, including frequency agility to support existing transducer installations, support for tried-and-true thermal record printing, and modern PC screen-based interfaces. However, with the evolution of multi-beam echo sounders (MBES), systems now have enhanced capabilities such as pulse length, number of beams and coverage, and operating frequency, allowing them to be used in new areas of application. The speed of sound is directly proportional to the density of the water, which can be influenced by a variety of factors such as turbidity, temperature of the water sample, pressure, and salinity, and is thus expected to impede the growth of the global echo sounders market size during the forecast period and is a restraining factor for the echo sounder market growth.
Market trends
New product launches to flourish the market
In December 2020, Kongsberg Maritime, a Norwegian technology enterprise within the Kongsberg Gruppen, introduced the EM 304 MKII, the latest addition to its line of deep-water multibeam echo sounders. The new mapping system, powered by a brand-new Kongsberg-designed wideband transmitter operating in the 20-32kHz band with a nominal frequency of 26kHz, significantly outperforms the MKI model, increasing range from 8,000m to full ocean depth and increasing swath performance by up to 75%. Furthermore, the EM 304 MKII offers an unprecedented 0.3° x 0.5° resolution, which the manufacturer claims is the highest achieved by a deep-water multibeam echo sounder, resulting in optimal performance and precision. Meanwhile, the system's modular design and flexible transducer design make installation simple and allow it to be tailored to almost any size vessel.
Surge in usage in multi-beam echo sounder
With the advancement of multi-beam echo sounder systems capable of providing narrow bandwidths, there is an increased demand for a complementary increase in the number of beams available to maintain full ensonification of the seabed. Furthermore, progress in the provision of a greater number of soundings has been allied with advancement in beam-forming technology to provide better control over the application and distribution of soundings. The market for multibeam echo sounders is constantly evolving as technology advances and sonar manufacturers seek new ways to refine and utilize the products. Many multibeam echo sounders are used in short, shallow water surveys of harbors, waterways, and so on, where mobility is critical, and several manufacturers have focused on development of the units that are as portable as possible and 'all-in-one' when it comes to GNSS (GPS) and motion sensor.
Key benefits of the report
- This study presents the analytical depiction of the echo sounder market industry along with the current trends and future estimations to determine the imminent investment pockets.
- The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with detailed analysis of the echo sounder market share.
- The current market is quantitatively analyzed to highlight echo sounder market growth scenario.
- Porter’s five forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers & suppliers in the market.
- The report provides a detailed echo sounder market analysis based on competitive intensity and how the competition will take shape in coming years
Questions answered in echo sounder market report research
- What are the leading market players active in the echo sounder market opportunity?
- What are the current trends that will influence the market in the next few years?
- What are the driving factors, restraints, and opportunities in the market?
- What are the projections for the future would help in taking further strategic steps?
- Upcoming report specific FAQs examples:
- What are echo sounder?
- What does echo sounder allow organizations to achieve?
- Which technologies combine to make echo sounder a critical organizational asset?
- What are the key benefits of the echo sounder market report?
- Which niches should companies associated with recent improvements establish a presence in?
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Echo Sounder Market Report Highlights
Aspects | Details |
By Product Type |
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By Usage |
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By Frequency Range |
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By Application |
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By Region |
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Key Market Players | FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., Knudsen Engineering Ltd., Navico, KAIZEN IMPERIAL, CEE HydroSystems, Neptune Sonar Ltd, Fugro, Teledyne Odom Hydrographic, Inc., Kongsberg Maritime AS, Sonar Products Limited |
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