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User expectations for multibeam echo sounders backscatter strength data-looking back into the future
Citation
Lucieer, V and Roche, M and Degrendele, K and Malik, M and Dolan, M and Larmarche, G, User expectations for multibeam echo sounders backscatter strength data-looking back into the future, Marine Geophysical Research, 39, (1-2) pp. 23-40. ISSN 0025-3235 (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2017
DOI: doi:10.1007/s11001-017-9316-5
Abstract
With the ability of multibeam echo sounders
(MBES) to measure backscatter strength (BS) as a function
of true angle of insonification across the seafloor, came a
new recognition of the potential of backscatter measurements
to remotely characterize the properties of the seafloor.
Advances in transducer design, digital electronics,
signal processing capabilities, navigation, and graphic
display devices, have improved the resolution and particularly
the dynamic range available to sonar and processing
software manufacturers. Alongside these improvements the
expectations of what the data can deliver has also grown. In
this paper, we identify these user-expectations and explore
how MBES backscatter is utilized by different communities
involved in marine seabed research at present, and the
aspirations that these communities have for the data in
the future. The results presented here are based on a user
survey conducted by the GeoHab (Marine Geological and
Biological Habitat Mapping) association. This paper summarises
the different processing procedures employed to extract useful information from MBES backscatter data and
the various intentions for which the user community collect
the data. We show how a range of backscatter output products
are generated from the different processing procedures,
and how these results are taken up by different scientific
disciplines, and also identify common constraints in handling
MBES BS data. Finally, we outline our expectations
for the future of this unique and important data source for
seafloor mapping and characterisation.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | multibeam acoustic backscatter, habitat mapping, marine geology, seafloor facies |
| Research Division: | Engineering |
| Research Group: | Geomatic Engineering |
| Research Field: | Surveying (incl. Hydrographic Surveying) |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management |
| Objective Field: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments |
| Author: | Lucieer, V (Dr Vanessa Lucieer) |
| ID Code: | 116540 |
| Year Published: | 2017 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2017-05-12 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-05-07 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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