Interactive tools for the exploration and analysis of multibeam and other seafloor acoustic data

Abstract

The Ocean Mapping Group has developed a full suite of software tools for the real-time or near real-time display, editing, quality control, interpretation and visualization of multibeam sonar data. The combination of detailed bathymetry and sonar imagery provides quantitative depth information and a qualitative description of the .spatial distribution of seafloor materials and textures. While the qualitative picture of the distribution of se~rfloor rypes is a very useful tool for a number of applications, our research efforts are currently aimed at atte~nptsto extract more quantitative seafloor property information from the sonar record. These efforts include the cmalj~sis of the chnracteristics of the vertically incident acoustic waveform as well as evaluation of the angular dependence of backscatter. To facilitate this research, several interactive 2-0 and 3-0 software tools have been developed that allow for the simultaneous exploration of sonar data in both geographic and multivariate space. The ultimate objective of this work is to provide a robust approach to the remote classification of seafloor type as well as the tools necessary to easily implement and utilize this approach.