Laboratory calibration is crucial for obtaining accurate measures with research-quality hydroacoustic systems. Calibration establishes the sampling system sensitivity and performance characteristics. This knowledge allows accurate estimation of the acoustic size, or target strength, of individual detected fish. HTI’s calibration lab, Impulse, is the only one of its kind on the West Coast of North America.

The Impulse Lab is, in essence, a large floating barge equipped with advanced calibration electronics, rotation apparatus and software. It’s at the ready to fully calibrate split-beam, dual-beam, single-beam transducers, and echo sounders from 38 kHz to 1 MHz, (with or without FM slide/chirp signals). HTI and the Impulse are located in Seattle on Lake Union and the Lake Washington Ship Canal.