A preliminary 3D model of a reservoir in ecuador using an unconventional low-budget hydroacoustical system

Advanced hydroacoustic instruments have been used extensively in Ecuador to obtain underwater images of reservoirs. However, accessing such systems is typically difficult due to their high cost and long purchase process times making them difficult to include in low-budget educational programs and research projects. Typical hydroacoustic data acquisition systems utilize licensed imaging processing tools that could cost as much as four times the nominal price of a research project at a public university like Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL). Furthermore, these systems are usually developed and fabricated internationally, thus, the researcher needs to invest as much as 6 months to a year in order to obtain all permits and complying with all regulations prior to making a purchase of advanced hydroacoustic instruments. In an effort to solve this problem, a low-cost data acquisition system was created and consisted of a fish finder, model Furuno FCV-600L, a 12-volt battery, freely available navigation and positioning tools, and a conventional camera. This acquisition system was tested in a reservoir with an area of 48,900m2 and located at the ESPOL s campus in Guayaquil-Ecuador. The data acquisition track was created using a free web mapping service and included evenly spaced segments that accounted for a total trajectory of 6,020 m. Positioning and navigation data were acquired using two free smart phone apps and all locations were saved with their corresponding timestamps. Finally, a preliminary 3D model of the reservoir was created using an open source geographic information system. The proposed system offers a low cost alternative to conduct underwater research in Ecuador making it possible for the scientist to include it even in low budget projects.