Development of an unmanned surface vessel for bathymetric mapping of former mining pit with Single Beam Echosounder (SBES)

Abstract Bathymetry mapping is important in various fields, including navigation, air resource management, and environmental risk mitigation. The Bangka Belitung region has many former tin mining pits that have turned into shallow waters with irregular bottom characteristics. This condition requires an accurate and efficient mapping method to support the optimal utilization of former mining pits. This study aims to design and build a Single Beam Echosounder (SBES) system on an unmanned vessel as a bathymetric mapping solution in the former mining pits of Bangka Belitung. The methods used include designing SBES hardware, installing the system on an unmanned vessel, as well as testing its performance in several pits and measuring its depth. The data obtained will be able to produce a bathymetric map. The test results show that the SBES developed Single Beam Echosounder tool was successfully designed and functioned optimally. Field testing showed significant contour variations, with depths ranging from -0.2 meters to -1 meter. These results were successfully visualized in the form of 2D and 3D bathymetric maps that describe the bottom characteristics of the pit in detail. This research provides evidence that the use of a Single Beam Echosounder on an unmanned vessel can be an efficient and accurate solution for bathymetric mapping in abandoned mine pits, particularly in Bangka Belitung. and provides a practical and efficient solution for conducting bathymetric surveys in narrow or hard-to-reach areas, such as former bridge mine pits or coastal areas with complex topography. So this tool can be used for planning the development of former mine pits.