Global trends such as climate monitoring and marine conservation are driving the need for multi-parameter data collection. The ability to gather chlorophyll concentrations, turbidity levels, and other environmental data alongside traditional hydrographic survey information is transforming how we understand and manage our oceans.
So how can marine professionals keep up with evolving data needs in dynamic environments?
HIGHLY COMPACT, HIGHLY CAPABLE
Teledyne Valeport’s SWiFT range offers a compelling solution. These compact profilers are engineered for ease of use, robust performance, and seamless integration with modern survey platforms.
The instruments feature internal logging with large battery capacity, offering endurance from 30 to 105 days depending on deployment settings, such as the number of profiles per day and depth. Bluetooth communications allow for wireless data transfer, while Bluetooth sleep mode conserves power during idle periods. The SWiFT range is optimized for smart winches and USVs, enabling seamless integration into today’s automated survey workflows.
VERSATILITY BENEATH THE SURFACE
The SWiFT profiler began as a compact and reliable sound velocity profiler, quickly gaining recognition for its precision and ease of use in hydrographic surveys. Building on this success, Teledyne Valeport introduced the SVPplus, adding a turbidity sensor to support environmental monitoring. This was followed by models incorporating fluorophore sensors, enabling the measurement of chlorophyll a, fluorescein, rhodamine, and phycocyanin. These are critical parameters for biological and water quality studies.
Recognizing the growing demand for multi-parameter data, the SWiFT evolved into a full CTD configuration, measuring conductivity, temperature, and depth. The CTDplus version further expanded its capabilities by integrating both turbidity and fluorophore sensors, offering a comprehensive profiling solution for coastal and inland water surveys.
For deep-sea applications, the SWiFT Deep CTD was developed, capable of profiling to depths of 6,000 meters. This model opens new possibilities for subsea exploration, supporting scientific research and commercial operations in some of the ocean’s most challenging environments.
From shallow estuaries to the deep ocean, the SWiFT range has grown into a versatile family of instruments, each designed to meet the evolving needs of marine professionals across disciplines.
SEAMLESS DATA & MOBILE INTEGRATION
Accessing data from the SWiFT profiler is designed to be as effortless as the deployment itself. Gone are the days of navigating complex workflows or manually reformatting files, SWiFT enables fast, wireless data transfer via Bluetooth, either to a computer or directly to a mobile device using the dedicated applications. Data can be output to all the main industry standard formats. When paired with a smart winch, the instrument can remain in Bluetooth mode, automatically uploading profiles the moment it surfaces.
This allows users to stay closer to the data they need, faster. For downloading large quantities of data quickly a cabled connection is also available. The mobile app also serves as a convenient tool for quick quality control checks in the field, giving users immediate insight into profile integrity before leaving the site.
Recent firmware upgrades have further enhanced the SWiFT range’s capabilities. ELViS Mode (Elevation Limited Vertical Sampling) enables combined down and up casts within a single data file and incorporates a set trigger depth at which the SWiFT starts and ends profiling.
Another improvement is the upgraded Smart-Winch Functionality, this allows for surface
‘joggle’ to precisely align the instrument with the winch for efficient data offload. The Fast Continuous Sampling model achieves rates of ≤16 Hz, ideal for high-resolution data collection. These upgrades reflect Teledyne Valeport’s commitment to user-driven innovation, making SWiFT even more adaptable to real-world survey conditions.
FIELD-PROVEN PERFORMANCE
Teledyne Valeport’s SWiFT range has earned a reputation for reliability and adaptability across a wide range of marine environments, from shallow coastal zones to deep offshore deployments over its 10-year lifespan. Their compact design, wireless capabilities, and compatibility with autonomous platforms make them a preferred choice for modern, low-carbon survey operations.
As part of its continuous cycle of innovation and product refinement, Teledyne Valeport has conducted extensive trials of the SWiFT profiler in Plymouth Sound in the UK. These trials were designed not only to validate the instrument’s performance in dynamic tidal environments but also to test new firmware features, including the ELViS Mode. The SWiFT successfully captured high-resolution sound speed data, revealing the natural variability critical for improving multibeam echo sounder accuracy. With built-in GNSS and reliable Bluetooth communications, the profiler enabled seamless data collection and transfer—reinforcing its value in both research and operational workflows, and demonstrating Valeport’s commitment to evolving its technology in real-world conditions.
A standout example of SWiFT’s integration with autonomous platforms took place at Loch Lyr—England’s only Loch, and home to DEEP Campus, a research and development test facility for marine technologies. In partnership with Maritime Robotics and DEEP, Teledyne Valeport deployed a SWiFT SVP aboard a Maritime Robotics Otter Pro USV to support a high-resolution hydrographic survey.
The SWiFT profiler provided essential environmental data temperature, sound velocity, and depth to correct multibeam sonar readings from a Teledyne RESON SeaBat T51 system. The Maritime Robotics USV operated both locally and remotely, with operators in Norway controlling the vessel via satellite communications. This autonomous setup not only reduced operational costs and carbon emissions but also delivered granular, high-quality data to inform DEEP’s plans for modular subsea habitats to be installed in the quarry.
SUPPORTING THE BLUE ECONOMY
These real-world applications, from autonomous mapping to advanced subsea infrastructure planning highlight SWiFT’s versatility and field-proven performance. Whether used in education, research, or commercial operations, SWiFT instruments continue to deliver the high-quality data marine professionals rely on to understand and manage our oceans.
Beyond technical performance, SWiFT contributes to broader sustainability goals. Its internal logging, wireless comms, and smart integration with USVs support low-carbon operations and efficient data workflows.
By enabling enhanced data collection with fewer resources, SWiFT aligns with global policy goals around marine conservation, regulatory compliance, and sustainable ocean management.
As oceanographic and hydrographic requirements continue to evolve, Teledyne Valeport remains committed to innovation. Future developments will focus on expanding sensor capabilities, enhancing automation, and supporting emerging survey platforms.
This feature appeared in ON&T Magazine’s 2025 November Edition, Remote Operations & Force Multiplication, to read more access the magazine here.
