Teaching in practice: acoustic mapping using Side Scan Sonar with students from IO-USP

During the week of July 30, 2024, I had the opportunity to participate in an onboard activity with students from the Oceanography course at the Oceanographic Institute of USP (IO-USP), developed at the institution's base in Cananéia, on the southern coast of the state of São Paulo. The proposal was to offer practical experience in operating side scan sonar (SSS) — an important geophysical device used for acoustic mapping of the seabed.

Team gathered during the activity aboard in Cananéia. On the right, at the bottom of the image, Prof. Dr. Michel Mahiques and Dr. Luiz Antonio Pereira de Souza (Laps).

The activity was led by Prof. Dr. Michel Michaelovitch de Mahiques and had technical support from the team responsible for the side scan sonar (SSS), which was me and Dr. Luiz Antonio Pereira de Souza (Laps). We used equipment from the Institute for Technological Research (IPT), and together we guided the students throughout the whole operation. I was responsible for presenting the system assembly procedures, cable installation, and the necessary guidelines to ensure safe and efficient data acquisition, while Laps conducted the instructions for processing the collected data.

Technical guidelines: demonstrating to students the procedures for correctly installing the side scan sonar and taking care of the connection cables. Photo: Laps.

The students were in the final stages of their degree, which made the experience even more meaningful and impactful for their training. Activities such as this, carried out in a real operating environment, represent a unique opportunity to consolidate the knowledge acquired throughout the course.

Real-time monitoring: Oceanography students from IO-USP monitor the first returns from the side scan sonar during an activity aboard a vessel in Cananéia.

Practical experience, especially aboard a vessel and in real data acquisition conditions, provides a much deeper understanding of the geophysical techniques taught in the classroom.

Putting the SSS in the water, but first a photo. Photo: Laps.

During the activity, students were able to follow all the steps involved in operating the side scan sonar (SSS), from assembling and installing the equipment to collecting and processing the data. With dedicated technical support, they received direct instructions on how the system works (as illustrated in the photo in which Laps explains the operating principles of SSS)...

Laps introduces students to the operating principles of side scan sonar (SSS), highlighting key aspects for understanding and subsequent data processing.

... and actively participated in the procedures for launching the equipment into the water (as recorded in the image in which I demonstrate this process).

Demonstration of the procedure for launching the SSS into the water, an essential step to ensure safe and efficient data acquisition during navigation. Photo: Laps.

More than just developing technical skills, the experience also fostered essential abilities such as attention to detail, adapting to unexpected challenges, and teamwork. These moments of collaboration extended beyond operational tasks—as demonstrated by the lighthearted and humorous conversations during navigation, which reinforced team bonding and contributed to a more welcoming and productive learning environment. This type of activity is essential for preparing future marine science and technology professionals, bringing them closer to the reality of fieldwork and stimulating interest in applied research.

Moments of relaxation on board: lively conversations and laughter during the voyage strengthened team spirit and made the experience even richer and more welcoming. Photo: Laps.

Even with the typical cold weather of winter on the south coast, the natural beauty of the Cananéia estuary region made the activity even more special. The students' engagement and the collaborative environment were hallmarks of this experience, which reinforces the role of fieldwork in training future oceanography professionals!

Images of the beautiful (and cold) estuarine landscape of Cananéia during navigation — the perfect setting for learning marine geophysics in practice.