M-35 Multibeam Survey

A hydraulic survey was conducted using multibeam sonar technology on the M-35 bridge over the Cedar River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A hydraulic analysis for scour due to past and future dredging required to maintain the nearby marina was requested by the Michigan Department of Transportation. This included the collection of geospatial data of the stream channel upstream and downstream of the structure.

Spicer Group employed its NORBIT Wideband Multibeam Sonar System to accomplish this task. With the compact system mounted on our 18’ survey vessel, our hydrographic survey team was able to navigate the shallow waters of the Cedar River and collect the required 3D river bottom data in an efficient and safe manner. Along with the main channel of the river, data was collected on multiple secondary channels and around the bridge piers. This high-density data will be valuable for the design of scour countermeasures around the piers in the future.