What is the EBSM-101S sonar scour monitoring system used for?

The EBSM-101S is used for real-time monitoring of riverbed and streambed depth changes caused by scouring at bridge piers and abutments, offshore structures such as wind turbines and petroleum rigs, water intakes, and dam sites. It provides continuous online data on sediment scour and aggradation dynamics to enable early warning before structural failure.

How does the EBSM-101S sonar scour monitoring system work?

The EBSM-101S employs acoustic echo ranging. The sonar sensor emits ultrasonic pulses at programmable time intervals and detects the reflected echo from the water-sediment interface (streambed). The depth of the riverbed is calculated from the travel time of the pulse using the speed of sound in water (approximately 1482 m/s at 20°C). The difference in acoustic impedance between water and sediment causes appreciable reflection at the interface, allowing the system to precisely locate the scour depth.

What are the key specifications of the EBSM-101S sonar sensor?

The EBSM-101S sonar sensor has an operating depth of 20 m, resolution better than 50 mm, resonant frequency of 200 kHz, beam width of 8° ± 1° conical, minimum streambed distance of 2 m from probe, operating temperature range of 0°C to +40°C, IP-68 waterproof protection, 15 m cable length, and communicates via Modbus protocol on 24V DC power supply.

What is the advantage of the EBSM-101S sonar system over the EBSM-101M magnetic system?

The EBSM-101S sonar system has no moving parts, making it highly reliable for long-term deployment and not susceptible to jamming by river debris or plant material. It is better suited for deep water bridges and provides continuous bed depth readings with high accuracy. The magnetic EBSM-101M system, however, retains the maximum scoured depth even if silt later refills the scour hole, which is an important advantage for recording peak scour events.

How is the EBSM-101S sonar sensor mounted on a bridge pier?

The sonar sensor is mounted on a stainless steel mounting frame fixed to the bridge pier using Hilti HSTR M8x75/10 anchor bolts. For flat pier surfaces a double angle frame is used, while for curved surfaces a single angle frame is used. The sensor must be oriented so its measuring cone points away from the pier toward the streambed, with a minimum 50 cm clearance radius, at least 2 m above the streambed, and always submerged at least 20 cm below the water surface.

Can the EBSM-101S sonar system transmit data in real time?

Yes. The EBSM-101 datalogger connected to the sonar sensor supports data transmission via cellular network GSM/GPRS, Ethernet through fibre-optic cable or VSAT, and RS-232 via USB port. Data is automatically uploaded to the Proqio cloud platform for 24/7 real-time visualization, advanced analytics, and instant SMS or email alerts when scour depth exceeds preset thresholds.

What power options are available for the EBSM-101S sonar scour monitoring system?

The EBSM-101S system supports battery power, AC mains supply, and solar power via the ESP-12V-1A solar power supply model. For isolated bridge locations without mains power access, solar or battery operation is recommended.

What is the limitation of the EBSM-101S sonar scour monitoring system?

The EBSM-101S sonar sensor must always remain submerged in water and must not be powered when not submerged as this can cause damage. Its readings can be affected if significant water debris or air bubbles are present in large quantities between the sensor and the streambed. Additionally, it cannot record the maximum historical scour depth if silt refills the scour hole, unlike the EBSM-101M magnetic system which retains the deepest recorded position.

Can the EBSM-101S system be used alongside the EBSM-101M magnetic scour system?

Yes. Both the EBSM-101S sonar and EBSM-101M magnetic scour systems can be installed simultaneously at the same bridge pier, connected to a single EBSM-101 datalogger. This combined deployment provides complementary data — the sonar gives continuous real-time bed depth readings while the magnetic system records maximum historical scour depth even after sediment refilling.

Sonar Scour Monitoring System

Name: EBSM-101S Sonar Scour Monitoring System | Bridge Scour | Encardio-Rite
Brand: Encardio-Rite
SKU: Model EBSM-101S
Availability: InStock

Model EBSM-101S

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Download Manual Download Data Sheet - English

Encardio-rite Model EBSM-101S is a sonar scouring monitoring system that employs an active sonar sensor to monitor riverbed depth. It makes use of an acoustic echo ranging based on the speed of sound in the water to monitor the bed depth. The elevation of the stream/river bed is measured at programmable time intervals by sending acoustic pulses from the sonar sensor to the streambed.

Operating depth	20 m
Resolution	Better than 50 mm
Resonant frequency	200 kHz (Nominal)
Beam width	8° ±1°, Conical
Precaution	Probe should always remain immersed in water to avoid damage