SonTek Instrumentation Selection Guide

Guide Me - Products By Application Focus

Start Here For a General Overview of Each SonTek System and Where They are Best Used

Whether you are looking to collect flow data in rivers, streams, or canals, or you need current profiles in deeper ocean environments, SonTek has an array of instrumentation that can be used in any body of water at various depths. Here is a side-by-side comparison to help point you in the right direction!

  • Hydrology - Surface Water
    Focus: Instantaneous Measurement 
    		Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   FlowTracker HydroSurveyor    RiverSurveyor S5/M9 SonTek-IQ Series
    Moving Vessel Discharge Yes
    Wading Discharge Measurements Yes Yes
    Focus: Continuous Monitoring  
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   FlowTracker HydroSurveyor    RiverSurveyor S5/M9 SonTek-IQ Series
    Irrigation Channels/Canals Yes Yes Yes
    Open Channel Flow Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Velocity Indexing Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Pipes Culverts Yes
    Natural Streams & Rivers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Storm Water Yes Yes Yes
    Marshes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Flood Alert Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Water Treatment Yes Yes Yes
    Water Supply Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Pollution Monitoring Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Focus: Research  
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   FlowTracker HydroSurveyor    RiverSurveyor S5/M9 SonTek-IQ Series
    Shallow Water/Low Flow Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Tidal/Marsh Studies Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Mixing Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
    CTD Yes
    Focus: Surveying 
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   FlowTracker HydroSurveyor    RiverSurveyor S5/M9 SonTek-IQ Series
    Fish Screen Yes Yes
    Flow/Current Field Yes Yes Yes
    Bathymetry Yes
    Reservoir Mapping Yes
    Sound Speed Yes
    Features  
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   FlowTracker HydroSurveyor    RiverSurveyor S5/M9 SonTek-IQ Series
    2D/3D Currents 3D 2D 3D 2D or 3D 3D 3D 3D
    Acoustic Backscatter Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
    Current Profiling Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
    CTD Profiling Standard
    Discharge/Flow Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
    Range Integrating Standard Standard Standard
    Single Point Standard Standard
    Water Level/Stage Standard Standard Standard
    Integrated & External Systems  
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   FlowTracker HydroSurveyor    RiverSurveyor S5/M9 SonTek-IQ Series
    Acoustic Level Standard Standard
    Bottom-Tracking Standard Standard
    Internal Data Recorder Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
    Compass/Tilt Sensor Optional Varies by Model Optional Standard Standard Standard
    Optical Backscatter Sensor
    Pressure Sensor Optional Optional Standard Standard Standard
    SeaBird CT Sensor Varies by Model Optional
    Temperature Sensor Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
    Conductivity Sensor Standard
  • Oceanography
    Focus: Open Ocean  
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   HydroSurveyor  
    Moorings
    Offshore Platforms Yes Yes
    Focus: Coastal Region  
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   HydroSurveyor  
    Surf-Zone/Turbulence
    Sediment Transport Yes
    Near-Shore Currents Yes Yes Yes
    Bottom boundary Layer Yes
    Estuaries/Shallow Water Yes Yes Yes
    CTD Profiling Yes
    Focus: Ports & Harbors
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   HydroSurveyor  
    Navigation
    Bottom Tracking/Moving Vessel
    Tide/Elevation Yes Yes Yes
    Focus: Waves
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   HydroSurveyor  
    Directional
    Non-Directional Yes Yes
    Focus: Surveying  
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   HydroSurveyor  
    Reservoir Mapping Yes
    Sound Speed Yes
    Features  
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   HydroSurveyor  
    2D/3D Currents 3D 2D 3D 3D
    Acoustic Backscatter Standard Standard Standard
    Bottom Tracking/Moving Vessel Standard
    Current Profiling Optional Standard Standard
    Discharge/Flow Standard
    Range Integrating Standard Standard
    Single Point Standard
    Integrated & External Systems
    		 Argonaut-ADV SonTek-SL Argonaut-XR CastAway   HydroSurveyor  
    Compass/Tilt Sensor Standard Standard Standard Standard
    Internal Data Recorder Standard Standard Standard Standard
    Optical Backscatter Sensor
    Pressure Sensor Optional Standard Standard Standard
    Pressure Sensor - High Accuracy Optional
    SeaBird CT Sensor Optional
    Temperature Sensor Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
    Conductivity Sensor Standard
  • Laboratory
    Applications
    		 FlowTracker
    Boundary-Layer Yes
    Flow Fields/Mapping Yes
    Flumes Yes
    Low Flow Yes
    Model Verification Yes
    Turbulence Yes
    Wave Studies Yes
    Features  
    		 FlowTracker
    2D/3D Currents 2D or 3D
    Acoustic Backscatter Yes
    Maximum Sampling Frequency 2Hz
    Integrated & External Systems  
    		 FlowTracker
    Compass/Tilt Sensor Tilt
    Internal Data Recorder Yes
    Pressure Sensor Optional
    Temperature Sensor Standard

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