Use of multibeam echosounder to detect terrain changes around two artificial reefs (western Adriatic sea, Italy)

Since the end of eighties, Senigallia and Portonovo, on the Western Adriatic Sea, host two artificial reefs at a depth of about 10 m. After about sixteen years from their construction, they were monitored through a multibeam echosounder to assess sea-bottom morphology and terrain changes around the structures. The bathymetric system was proved a very advanced geophysical instrument able to detect the distribution of artificial reefs and the location of every single unit. 3-D visualizations of the study areas showed clearly movements of the single units and subsidence of the reefs, above all the central zone.