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dBSea Documentation

Introduction

dBSea is underwater acoustic propagation modeling software for predicting sound levels in marine environments. It is used for environmental impact assessments, noise exposure studies, and acoustic modeling in applications such as offshore construction, shipping, and marine research.

Key Capabilities

Section titled “Key Capabilities”

Propagation Solvers

Section titled “Propagation Solvers”
  • 3D Parabolic Equation (dBSeaPE 3D) — full 3D propagation for low-frequency problems in complex environments
  • 3D Ray Tracing (dBSeaRay 3D) — full 3D propagation for high-frequency problems, with ray path tracing, phase tracking, and time-of-arrival calculations
  • Split-frequency solving — use different solvers for low and high frequency ranges in a single scenario
  • Simple geometric spreading (10 log / 20 log) for quick estimates
  • Source directivity support across PE and ray tracing solvers

Environmental Modeling

Section titled “Environmental Modeling”
  • 3D bathymetry — imported as a 2D depth grid, interpreted as a full 3D seafloor for propagation calculations
  • Sound speed profiles — define sound speed vs. depth, with range-dependent profiles at multiple locations interpolated across the model domain
  • Multi-layer sediment — configurable density, sound speed, and attenuation for each seabed layer
  • Range-dependent properties — spatially varying water and sediment properties across the model area

Analysis and Output

Section titled “Analysis and Output”
  • Transmission loss calculations across the full model domain
  • Time-domain analysis — peak (Lp), peak-to-peak (Lp-p), and sound exposure level (SEL) calculations for impulsive sources
  • Ray arrival lists with propagation time delays and phase information at receiver points
  • Moving sources — model sound exposure from vessels, towed sources, pile driving, and other dynamic noise sources
  • Exclusion zone mapping with regulatory threshold support (e.g. NOAA marine mammal criteria)
  • Marine species weightings — frequency-dependent hearing curves for environmental assessments
  • Animal movement modeling — simulate marine animal responses to sound with 3MB integration

Data and Integration

Section titled “Data and Integration”
  • GIS import — bathymetry from GeoTIFF, ESRI ASCII grid, CSV, and other formats
  • GIS export — results to shapefiles, GeoJSON, ESRI ASCII grid, and XYZ
  • Python scripting interface for automation and batch processing
  • Cross-platform — Windows (including Windows Server), macOS, and Linux

What’s New in Version 3

Section titled “What’s New in Version 3”

dBSea v3 is a complete rebuild of the application with significant new features:

  • Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • 3D parabolic equation and ray tracing solvers
  • Animal movement modeling with 3MB integration
  • Python scripting interface
  • Cloud-based licensing

See What’s New in v3 for details.

Getting Started

Section titled “Getting Started”

Documentation

Section titled “Documentation”

Use the navigation menu to find help on specific topics. Key sections include:

  • Interface - Detailed documentation of each input page (sources, water properties, sediment, etc.)
  • Solvers - Description of available calculation methods and when to use each
  • CSV Editor - Tools for importing and converting bathymetry data
  • FAQ - Answers to common questions

Support

Section titled “Support”

For additional help:

  • View the application log via Tools → View dBSea Log
  • Contact support at dbsea.co.uk