Abstract

Acoustic seafloor backscatter measurements made by multiple Reson multibeam echo-sounders (MBES) used for hydrographic survey have been observed to be inconsistent, affecting the quality of data products and impeding large-scale processing efforts. A method to conduct a relative inter and intra sonar calibration in the field using dual frequency Reson 7125 MBES has been developed, tested, and evaluated to improve the consistency of backscatter measurements made from multiple MBES systems. The approach is unique in that it determines a set of corrections for power, gain, pulse length, and an angle dependent calibration term relative to a single Reson 7125 MBES calibrated in an acoustic test tank. These corrections can then be applied during processing for any acquisition setting combination. This approach seeks to reduce the need for manual data or data product manipulation during post processing, providing a foundation for improved automated seafloor characterization using data from more than one MBES system.

Presenter Bio

Briana Welton has a B.A. in mathematics from Smith College and is pursuing a master’s degree in Earth Science/Ocean Mapping.

She joined the NOAA Commissioned Corps in 2003, after working for a short time as a Research Specialist at the University of Arizona. She started her NOAA career aboard NOAA Ship Rainier surveying the coasts of Washington and Alaska, and continued as Officer-in-Charge of Bay Hydrographer and Team Leader of a Navigation Response Team in the Mid-Atlantic Region, working on projects from Puerto Rico to New York. After a year-long stint as the Mid-Atlantic Navigation Manager at NOAA at Nauticus, representing navigation interests from South Carolina to Delaware, she returned to surveying in Alaska and Washington as Operations Officer aboard NOAA Ship Fairweather. Most recently she was the Operations Officer aboard NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler, NOAA’s new SWATH (small waterplane area twin hull) vessel, preparing the ship for and undergoing regulatory inspections and mission equipment testing.

Publication Date

4-2-2014

Document Type

Presentation

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