Regresar

M ultifrequency C lassification and Characterization of Single Beam Echousounder D ata C ollected from O ffshore Ireland

Abstract:

Since 2000, the Irish National Seabed Survey and INFOMAR (INtegrated mapping FOr the sustainable development of Ireland's MArine Resource) have mapped the area from the outer margins of Ireland's territorial seabed to the shelf as well as nearshore areas. Using several research vessels equipped with a variety of instruments, ocean, seabed and sub-seabed properties have been measured. During this time, INFOMAR has produced regional seabed classification charts using multibeam backscatter data. Multibeam backscatter returns at high frequencies are generally a good indicator of surface seabed properties, but are not suitable for the subsurface discrimination because of minimal sound penetration. Furthermore, multibeam backscatter returns below nadir are not generally a good seabed discriminator, leaving unclassified gaps in most of these charts. Single beam echoes are precisely imaging most of this region, making the two sonar systems complementary in an integrated approach to seabed characterization.