HydroSurv has been chosen as one of twelve UK innovators to secure funding from the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership’s (OWGP) Development Funding Programme. This support will accelerate the creation of a next-generation, USV-led 3D sub-bottom profiling (SBP) system aimed at transforming how offshore wind developers map and analyse the shallow sub-seafloor.
Detailed characterisation of the seabed and shallow subsurface is fundamental to planning and constructing offshore wind farms. Developers rely on high-resolution geophysical datasets to understand sediment composition and identify potential geohazards, including shallow gas, boulders, faults and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Clear visualisation of these features is critical to de-risking engineering design and informing safe, efficient installation strategies.
Co-funded by the OWGP, HydroSurv’s latest R&D programme addresses this requirement by developing an advanced 3D SBP solution optimised for uncrewed operations. Delivered in collaboration with GeoAcoustics, the UK’s leading manufacturer of sub-bottom profiling systems, and specialist geophysical consultancy Tellus Geoconsulting, the project brings together complementary strengths spanning sonar innovation, applied geophysical survey expertise and uncrewed vessel operations.
The project also benefits from strategic guidance from Ocean Winds, who endorsed the initiative following HydroSurv’s first-place success in the KTN Innovation Exchange competition for geophysical survey solutions earlier in 2025.
At the core of the system is a new multi-frequency sub-bottom sonar architecture based on the proven GeoAcoustics GeoPulse 2 platform. A novel hydrophone arrangement and a dedicated deployment and recovery system will enable acquisition of 3D volumetric datasets, allowing improved lateral resolution and clearer delineation of buried features. The development is being tailored to key offshore wind use-cases, including pre-construction foundation engineering and cable route assessments.
The SBP system will be integrated into HydroSurv’s REAV-45 battery-hybrid USV, the UK-configured variant of the REAV-47 designed to align with the new MGN 705 (M) MiniMASS Code. In 2025, HydroSurv completed delivery of the first four REAV-47 platforms, now in routine commercial service across Europe and West Africa for hydrographic, geophysical and oceanographic data acquisition.
Combining the REAV-45 with this new SBP capability is expected to provide a highly capable solution for coastal and landfall surveys, addressing the technical challenges and high operational costs associated with traditional towed systems. Developed as a fully integrated USV-first package, the system will undergo extensive field trials and validation during on-water testing scheduled for October 2026.
“We’re delighted to be working with the expert teams at GeoAcoustics and Tellus to begin this important development project. USV technology has the potential to be highly impactful for high-resolution subsurface imaging, and by developing the capability around the REAV-45 we can significantly increase the vessel’s utility, particularly for landfall and coastal survey workscopes,” said David Hull, Founder & CEO, HydroSurv.
“It is great to be working with the teams from HydroSurv and Tellus on this new 3D sub-bottom profiler development and forms an integral part of the new range of products we are looking to bring to market in 2026”, said Richard Dowdeswell, CCO, GeoAcoustics.
This initiative forms part of OWGP’s wider investment strategy to enhance UK supply chain capability and accelerate adoption of innovative technologies that will support the UK’s ambition to achieve 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.
