Exploring Mechanisms to Resolve Position and Intensity Disparities to Create a Combined Sidescan and Multibeam Sonar Backscatter Image

TitleExploring Mechanisms to Resolve Position and Intensity Disparities to Create a Combined Sidescan and Multibeam Sonar Backscatter Image
Publication TypeThesis
Year2021
AuthorsMarcus, C
Degree and ProgramMaster of Science
DegreeEarth Sciences/Ocean Maping
Date Published12/2021
UniversityUniversity of New Hampshire
LocationDurham, NH

The need for comprehensive seabed characterization has increased as fields such as offshore engineering and habitat management have expanded. Sidescan sonars and multibeam echosounders have generally been used as separate means to provide high-resolution imagery of the seabed, as there are a number of factors such as different grazing angles and high positioning uncertainty that prevent a cohesive product. By using the “true” position of a feature from a multibeam grid to reposition sidescan navigation data, the associated sidescan imagery positions are now recalculated with a reduced uncertainty. Once all sidescan navigation has been recalculated, the multibeam backscatter can be used to visually adjust the sidescan imagery to create a near homogenous mosaic of the seabed. By creating this product, one can now have a full coverage backscatter product with greater positional accuracy and a relatively homogeneous visual scale. The combination of these mosaics from sources typically used by NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey for bathymetric surveys, creates a new product can be utilized by customers outside of typical navigational charting communities.