Multibeam sonar backscatter data processing

Multibeam sonar systems now routinely record seafloor backscatter data, which are processed into backscatter mosaics and angular responses, both of which can assist in identifying seafloor types and morphology. Those data products are obtained from the multibeam sonar raw data files through a sequen...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Schimel, A., Beaudoin, J., Parnum, Iain, Le Bas, T., Schmidt, V., Keith, G., Ierodiaconou, D.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67438
_version_ 1848761566590140416
author Schimel, A.
Beaudoin, J.
Parnum, Iain
Le Bas, T.
Schmidt, V.
Keith, G.
Ierodiaconou, D.
author_facet Schimel, A.
Beaudoin, J.
Parnum, Iain
Le Bas, T.
Schmidt, V.
Keith, G.
Ierodiaconou, D.
author_sort Schimel, A.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Multibeam sonar systems now routinely record seafloor backscatter data, which are processed into backscatter mosaics and angular responses, both of which can assist in identifying seafloor types and morphology. Those data products are obtained from the multibeam sonar raw data files through a sequence of data processing stages that follows a basic plan, but the implementation of which varies greatly between sonar systems and software. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of this backscatter data processing chain, with a focus on the variability in the possible implementation of each processing stage. Our objective for undertaking this task is twofold: (1) to provide an overview of backscatter data processing for the consideration of the general user and (2) to provide suggestions to multibeam sonar manufacturers, software providers and the operators of these systems and software for eventually reducing the lack of control, uncertainty and variability associated with current data processing implementations and the resulting backscatter data products. One such suggestion is the adoption of a nomenclature for increasingly refined levels of processing, akin to the nomenclature adopted for satellite remote-sensing data deliverables.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T10:33:43Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-67438
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T10:33:43Z
publishDate 2018
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-674382018-08-21T03:53:30Z Multibeam sonar backscatter data processing Schimel, A. Beaudoin, J. Parnum, Iain Le Bas, T. Schmidt, V. Keith, G. Ierodiaconou, D. Multibeam sonar systems now routinely record seafloor backscatter data, which are processed into backscatter mosaics and angular responses, both of which can assist in identifying seafloor types and morphology. Those data products are obtained from the multibeam sonar raw data files through a sequence of data processing stages that follows a basic plan, but the implementation of which varies greatly between sonar systems and software. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of this backscatter data processing chain, with a focus on the variability in the possible implementation of each processing stage. Our objective for undertaking this task is twofold: (1) to provide an overview of backscatter data processing for the consideration of the general user and (2) to provide suggestions to multibeam sonar manufacturers, software providers and the operators of these systems and software for eventually reducing the lack of control, uncertainty and variability associated with current data processing implementations and the resulting backscatter data products. One such suggestion is the adoption of a nomenclature for increasingly refined levels of processing, akin to the nomenclature adopted for satellite remote-sensing data deliverables. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67438 10.1007/s11001-018-9341-z restricted
spellingShingle Schimel, A.
Beaudoin, J.
Parnum, Iain
Le Bas, T.
Schmidt, V.
Keith, G.
Ierodiaconou, D.
Multibeam sonar backscatter data processing
title Multibeam sonar backscatter data processing
title_full Multibeam sonar backscatter data processing
title_fullStr Multibeam sonar backscatter data processing
title_full_unstemmed Multibeam sonar backscatter data processing
title_short Multibeam sonar backscatter data processing
title_sort multibeam sonar backscatter data processing
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67438