Backscatter - From Ping to Database

A Canadian Hydrographic Service Perspective

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) is willing to make better use of the backscatter intensity data collected with their multibeam sounding systems. All the backscatter data collected during the last 2 decades were not systematically processed and maintained, so a lot of valuable information has not been used yet and is archived on tapes and disks. The intent of CHS is to make an inventory of this data and to process it to a minimum level so that it can be made accessible to its cartographers and to the scientific community. Backscatter information can be a valuable piece of information... (read more)

2014-05-19 03:00:47

Creation of Backscatter Working Group

Geohab is putting together a Working Group on Backscatter Data Acquisition and Processing. This was one of the main recommentations of the workshop on 'Multibeam Backscatter – State of Technology, Tools and Techniques' which was held on 5 May 2013 in Rome, Italy. During this workshop, the need for standardisation of the acquisition and processing backscatter caused by multibeam echo sounders was expressed. The purpose of the Working Group is to discuss and propose a series of best practices or standards for acquisition and processing of multibeam sonar backscatter data, and to prepare a set of guidelines. Recommendations will also... (read more)

2013-07-23 12:00:00

Teledyne PDS Introduces Online Sidescan Sonar Backscatter Mosaicking

Teledyne PDS has released a number of new features for online sidescan sonar backscatter mosaicking. A new option ensures that the PDS offering remains at the forefront of sonar processing software. In relation to this new update, a number of new features are available. Firstly, whilst in mosaicking work flow, an additional Backscatter Logging tab has been added to the online Sonar Side Scan Waterfall and Snippets display to activate and manage the online backscatter gridmodel logging and mosaicking. An online Side Scan Sonar GapFill view with a GapFill Operations tab has also been added to the platform. This will enable... (read more)

2018-04-13 10:46:04

Calibrated Backscatter Data Enhances Geoswath Plus Multibeam Seafloor Identification

Kongsberg Maritime’s GeoTexture software for the GeoSwath Plus line of multibeam echosounders introduces Calibrated Backscatter data. The update positions the combination of GeoSwath Plus and the latest GeoTexture as a solution capable of delivering calibrated images of the acoustic reflectivity of the seafloor. The system, which has been developed as a result of Kongsberg’s involvement with the GeoHab conference backscatter data working group, can be used for reliable and repeatable texture mapping and identification of seafloor types. The data generated will have important applications in marine habitat mapping, engineering and geosciences. The backscatter working group was formed in 2013 as... (read more)

2016-02-22 04:16:30

GeoTexture for Backscatter Data Processing Evaluation at AWI

Regarding co-registered, georeferenced backscatter data, the German Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) has recently been evaluating the Kongsberg Geoacoustics GeoTexture software suite for backscatter data processing, mosaic creation and seabed classification. The software performance has been optimised for the analysis of GeoSwath Plus backscatter data, as it allows for beam pattern correction, vessel motion and sea-bottom topography, which substantially improve the quality of the mosaics and simplify image analysis and interpretation. Back in 2012, AWI began assessing the pace of coastal erosion and the nature of sediment and organic matter transfer in nearshore areas... (read more)

2013-12-02 09:58:34

Backscatter from Ping to Database - a CHS Perspective

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) is willing to make better use of the backscatter intensity data collected with its multibeam sounding systems. Because the backscatter data collected during the last two decades was not systematically processed and maintained, much valuable information has not yet been used and is archived on tapes and disks. CHS intends to make an inventory of this data and to process it to a minimum level so that it can be made accessible both to its cartographers and to the wider scientific community. Backscatter information can be a valuable piece of information for traditional chart production,... (read more)

2014-06-06 12:00:00

ASL Announces Next Generation in Acoustic Backscatter Measurements

A new tool to measure both sediment concentration and sediment size are being built by ASL Environmental Sciences (ASL). The Multi-frequency Ultrasonic Device (MUD) is based on ASL's successful Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP). The MUD and AZFP echosounders can be configured with up to four frequencies ranging from 38 kHz to 2 MHz. The MUD prototype is based on a set of higher frequencies (200 kHz, 769 kHz, 1.2 MHz and 2.0 MHz) that will allow for a broad range of particle size discrimination. While the AZFP is a high gain device for low scattering conditions and the greatest... (read more)

2019-01-08 08:16:34

Computer Vision-based Detection of Fish from Acoustic Backscatter Time Series

ASL Environmental Sciences has announced the awarding of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Engage Grant for the development of new automated or semi-automated analysis tools for Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) data with the University of Victoria and ASL. This collaboration will be led by Dr Alexandra Branzan Albu's research group from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the University of Victoria along with ASL acoustic and remote sensing specialists. Additionally, AZFP data will be provided by Dr Stéphane Gauthier of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, who will also bring expertise in the areas... (read more)

2019-02-19 10:01:51

Benthic Habitat Mapping

Utilisation of Multi-beam Backscatter for Ecological Study of the Seafloor

The establishment of multi-beam echo sounders (MBES) as a mainstream tool in ocean mapping has revolutionised approaches towards nautical charting, seafloor geotechnical/geological surveys and benthic habitat mapping. The resolution of bathymetric and backscatter data collected by MBES has improved significantly in recent years through technological improvements of these acoustic systems. Furthermore, developments in data collection and processing of MBES backscatter have resulted in the increasing preferential use of multi-beam technology over conventional side-scan sonar or single beam sonar for these applications. This article explores some recent developments in the methods used to generate benthic habitat maps using multi-beam sonar systems.... (read more)

2012-07-26 02:55:45

Timo C. Gaida Wins Multispectral Challenge at GeoHab 2018

Timo C. Gaida from Delft University of Technology was recognised as the winner of the Multispectral Challenge at GeoHab 2018 for his research paper, 'A multispectral Bayesian method for improved discrimination performance of seabed sediment classification using multi-frequency multibeam backscatter data'. The three judges - Lloyd Huff, Jonathan Beaudoin and Chris Tiemann - selected Timo C. Gaida’s research paper among six submissions from universities from around the world. R2Sonic launched the Multispectral Challenge at GeoHab 2017, following the introduction of the Multispectral Mode available with R2Sonic Multibeam Echosounder Sonic 2026. Game-changer for bottom characterisation The new feature enables the collection... (read more)

2018-05-22 10:08:26