Co.l.Mar designs, develops and produces acoustic systems, such as hydrophones and projectors, used in the civil and military sectors for environmental monitoring and oceanographic research. It also manufactures active systems, antennas, passive systems, acoustic heads, hydrophones, etc.
A hydrophone is an underwater sensor designed to pick up sound, noise and other acoustic signals propagating in the sea or fresh water. Hydrophones detect sounds propagating in liquid environments, just like a microphone is used for detecting acoustic waves in the gaseous environment of Earth’s atmosphere.
Subsonic and ultrasonic hydrophones are used to study sound propagation in the marine environment. Developed in the military field since World War I, the technology has been extended to civil applications of different types and bioacoustics applications, such as acoustic monitoring for the protection of the marine environment and the cetacean population. Hydrophones are designed and developed according to their specific applications.
They are composed of a sensitive part, usually Piezoelectric Ceramic, and, in some cases, an electronic part that amplifies the acquired and/or transmitted signal. Co. Italia produces a wide variety of hydrophones, transducers, and more complex acoustic systems suitable for oceanographic research and environmental monitoring.
For example, Co. Italia’s Muphydro programmable Digital Hydrophone demonstrates the company’s dedication to advancing marine acoustics research and innovation. This hydrophone is engineered with precision and offers unparalleled capabilities for researchers and enthusiasts. With its programmable features, users can customise recording parameters to suit different marine environments and research goals.
Co.l. Mar. Italia is proud to participate in the conference’s mission to support marine research and cetacean conservation. The field application covers the military, environmental and oil and gas sectors, where we have always been operating globally with our patented ‘Acoustic Leak Detector’ system to detect subsea leaks on pipelines.
In addition to the standard selection of hydrophones and transducers, we also design and develop custom products on request. The headquarters is fitted with the biggest indoor pool in Italy, which is equipped with instrument testing, acoustic measurements and calibration. Several pressing chambers are capable of testing Co.l. Mar’s tools by simulating the hydrostatic pressures at depths of 4000m.
Since 1982, Co.l.Mar has worked in the fields of marine strategy and oceanographic engineering.
It was founded on the collaboration of scientists and engineers with extensive backgrounds in marine acoustics and geophysics, and it later expanded its operations to include a wide range of underwater acoustics applications.
The firm is an excellent illustration of a thriving family-run enterprise with exceptional quality standards and specialised knowledge. As a result, one might become globally visible and export goods and services anywhere.
Digital Hydrophones
Underwater acoustics uses low-noise preamplified omnidirectional hydrophones, often known as ‘below sea state zero,’ which are extremely professional devices with a variety of uses. The hydrophones’ high sensitivity and the low voltage noise of their highly adjustable preamplifier make them ideal for use in environmental noise measurements, bioacoustics research, and acoustic source characterization in the 5Hz–90kHz frequency range.
Military Standard
The expertise of Co.l.Mar engineers in underwater acoustics enable them to replicate nearly all varieties of military active and passive transducers, even when original replacement parts are no longer accessible.
The company also develops and manufactures tailor-made sonar antennas according to client requirements and conducts tests on them in the onsite tank. Co.l.Mar. antennas are utilized in active and passive underwater sonar applications in the military and civilian sectors. Co.l.Mar. also offers specialized software designed for signal processing.
Permanent Underwater Monitoring
MupHydro is an intelligent, programmable digital hydrophone and recording device. Designed for extended periods of use, every unit can be linked to a maximum of four hydrophones and ambient sensors.
This intelligent hydrophone is suitable for detecting underwater acoustic events and measuring subsea noise. It is also ideal for continuous underwater monitoring, for example, in oil and gas scenarios, underwater security, and biological monitoring.
Neutrino Telescope
The European deep-sea research infrastructure KM3NeT has a neutrino telescope with a volume of multiple cubic kilometres in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea, providing a new perspective on the Universe.
The telescope detects neutrinos from faraway sources such as gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, or star collisions. It is an effective instrument in investigating dark matter in the Cosmos.
The centre also stores instruments used in earth and sea sciences to monitor the deep sea environment for extended periods on-site and remotely.
The hydrophone chosen for the project is the DG1330 model, designed and made by Co.l.Mar. s.r.l. in collaboration with TelesubLanterna. A request was made for 256 hydrophones.
