Offshore structures such as wind turbines, rigs, and pilings can be weakened by scour around their base. Scour holes are generated by storms or strong currents and will often appear and disappear on short notice.

As a result, storm-driven scour may not leave a detectable signature in a post-storm survey. As such, it can only be properly characterized if monitored also when normal survey operations have to be suspended.
To capture these transient events, Nortek AS (Norway) developed the acoustic scour monitor, which allows continuous data collection during scour events, either as real time monitoring system or in an autonomous mode for pre-installation research studies. The scour monitor uses four narrow acoustic beams to detect the along-beam distance from the sensor to the seabed at four points away from the structure. By monitoring scour events, operators can determine the requirement for protective measures such as rock dumping.

Scour Monitor may be applied in offshore wind farms and bridges as well as in drilling platforms and other offshore structures. System is equipped with memory for measurements recording, there is also possibility to real time on-line communication and data downloading.