METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING A CONTOUR OF THE GROUND

A method for measuring a contour of the ground by means of a transmitting arrangement for the directed emission of sound signals and by means of a receiving arrangement including at least two transducers for receiving the sound signals reflected from the contour of the ground. Sound signals are emitted consecutively using a plurality of N soundings from predetermined positions P1, P2, P3, P4, . . . , PN having different aspect angles N in relation to and distances rN from the contour of the ground. A phase difference, the path differences resulting therefrom, the corresponding angles of incidence, and the coordinates of incidence are ascertained from the receive signals of the transducers for a plurality of sampling times and for the N soundings. Afterwards, the data density is ascertained within a predefined range containing the coordinate of incidence. The range which has the maximum data density is selected, and the coordinate of incidence (x, y, z) corresponding to the range is used for ascertaining the contour of the ground.