OpenCHIRP: A Low-Cost, Lightweight Sub-Bottom Profiler for Shallow Water Environments Suitable for Autonomous Vehicles

Giuseppe Stanghellini; Fabrizio Del Bianco; Francesco Suriano; Luca Gasperini

doi:10.3390/s25237184

OpenCHIRP: A Low-Cost, Lightweight Sub-Bottom Profiler for Shallow Water Environments Suitable for Autonomous Vehicles

Sensors (Basel). 2025 Nov 25;25(23):7184. doi: 10.3390/s25237184.

Authors

Giuseppe Stanghellini¹, Fabrizio Del Bianco², Francesco Suriano², Luca Gasperini¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Marine Sciences, Italian National Research Council (CNR), 40129 Bologna, Italy.
² Proambiente S.C.r.l., Via Piero Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy.

Abstract

This paper presents the development of OpenCHIRP, an innovative sub-bottom profiler (SBP) designed for high-resolution seismic reflection surveys in shallow-water marine and lacustrine environments. The instrument employs chirped (frequency-modulated) impulses to penetrate the first few meters of unconsolidated sediments below the seafloor. Key characteristics include low cost, light weight, and low energy consumption, making it particularly suitable for deployment onboard Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs). We discuss design, functionality, and potential applications of this innovative instrument, as well as results of the preliminary tests.

Keywords: CHIRP; OpenCHIRP; pseudo-3D and 4D (repeated) seafloor and subseafloor seismic surveys; seismic reflection; shallow-water environments; sub-bottom profiler.