Case histories › Case history
Case history
CEE ECHO™ replaces three older echo sounders for Hughes & Associates in Alaska
Hughes & Associates, an Alaska hydrographic surveyor, replaced three older echo sounders with one CEE ECHO™. The data is cleaner, the sounder tracks the sea floor more consistently, and its compact size and internal battery suit flying out to remote sites on small aircraft.
Equipment used
At a glance
- Client
- Hughes & Associates
- Location
- Wasilla, Alaska, USA
- Application
- Hydrographic surveys: dredging and construction projects across Alaska
- Equipment
- CEE ECHO™ single beam echo sounder
- Trial
- CEESCOPE™ rental, 2016
- Since
- 2017 season
About Hughes & Associates
Hughes & Associates is a hydrographic surveying firm based in Wasilla, Alaska. Owner and operator Cory Hughes, PLS, works throughout the state of Alaska, including many places off the road system.
The challenge
After renting a CEE HydroSystems CEESCOPE™ for a trial single beam survey in 2016, Hughes & Associates purchased a CEE ECHO™ sonar for the 2017 season.
Cory’s single beam equipment pool was a mixture of ageing and under-performing equipment, and he was looking for a more modern alternative.
The solution
CEE HydroSystems re-terminated the existing transducers with LEMO connectors, ready for the new echo sounder, “and off they went.”
According to Cory, the CEE ECHO™ more than met expectations.
“The CEE HydroSystems CEE ECHO sounder has been a significant upgrade to our single beam capabilities. It has completely replaced our three older echo sounders and the results have been nothing short of outstanding. Not only is the data cleaner, the sounder is far more consistent tracking the sea floor. The system has been flawless and is extremely simple to use. The touch screen is intuitive, and the network connection is a massive improvement over the old style serial cables.”
Cory Hughes, PLS, Owner & Operator, Hughes & Associates
Built for remote Alaska
“We have used our CEE ECHO™ on both dredging and construction projects with equally good results. We work throughout the state of Alaska including many places off the road system. This requires flying out to remote locations, often on small aircraft which makes the CEE ECHO’s compact size far superior to the bulky, overweight echo sounders of the past. The internal battery is ideal for setting up on vessels of opportunity with limited power access.”
The results
“The overall ease of use, simple setup, intuitive design, and most importantly, clean, consistent data has transformed our confidence and ability to collect good quality data in even the most difficult situations. Add in the outstanding customer service and knowledge of the CEE HydroSystems team and there isn’t another echo sounder on the market today we would consider purchasing. It really is that good.”
Vast improvements in portability, usability and data quality were seen after the change to the CEE single beam sonar system, especially in shallow water.
“It really is that good.”
Cory Hughes, PLS, Owner & Operator, Hughes & Associates
Planning a similar survey?
Tell us about your site and we’ll recommend the right equipment.
Talk to us →
More from the field
6 Jan 2026
Dredging contractor brings surveys in-house with the CEE ECHO™ and Hydromagic
ACT Marine, a New England dredging contractor, uses a CEE ECHO™ with Hydromagic for its own QC and pre-final clearance surveys. The system sets up in 20 minutes, its results match the third-party survey, and projects are accepted on the final survey without costly post cleanup.
ACT Marine, a New England dredging contractor, uses a CEE ECHO™ with Hydromagic for its own QC and pre-final clearance surveys. The system sets up in 20 minutes, its results match the third-party survey, and projects are accepted on the final survey without costly post cleanup.
Read case history →
13 Nov 2025
Blue Arc Engineering halves fieldwork on dock permit surveys with the CEE ECHO™ and Hydromagic
Blue Arc Engineering in Fort Myers, Florida swapped manual range pole and GNSS depth surveys for a CEE ECHO™ with Hydromagic and its existing Trimble R780. Fieldwork that would have taken a full day was cut in half, and the bathymetric product followed within days.
Blue Arc Engineering in Fort Myers, Florida swapped manual range pole and GNSS depth surveys for a CEE ECHO™ with Hydromagic and its existing Trimble R780. Fieldwork that would have taken a full day was cut in half, and the bathymetric product followed within days.
Read case history →
10 Dec 2024
AOI Solutions surveys a hurricane-hit construction pond with the CEE ECHO™ and Hydromagic
AOI Solutions surveyed a Daytona Beach retention pond, hit by hurricane Helene inflow and active backfilling, in 3 hours with a CEE ECHO™ and Hydromagic. An edited RTK-grade bottom surface reached the client three hours later, and the echograms showed both the sediment level and the original pond bottom.
AOI Solutions surveyed a Daytona Beach retention pond, hit by hurricane Helene inflow and active backfilling, in 3 hours with a CEE ECHO™ and Hydromagic. An edited RTK-grade bottom surface reached the client three hours later, and the echograms showed both the sediment level and the original pond bottom.
Read case history →