LOTIS - Lidar fOr deTailed Inspection of underwater Structures

越来越多的关键海底应用需要高分辨率的3D地图，这些应用包括安装和运营海上风能、资产退役、环境监测和国防。与现有的声学或传统成像解决方案相比，量子光子探测技术可以使这些地图的分辨率、精度、覆盖范围和生成速度发生阶段性变化。这个项目中提出的方法与其他技术不同，因为它依赖于最先进的单光子检测技术，该技术允许以极低的光级返回进行三维成像，通常每个像素(在所谓的稀疏光子区域)不到一个光子-对应于高水下衰减。单光子检测是一种量子技术，最近被用于光检测和测距(LiDAR)应用。水下成像的一个主要优势是它处于CMOSSPAD探测器的理想光谱区域，最近在大型高效SPAD探测器阵列的功能方面取得了显著的优势。该项目由海洋行业牵头，满足目前的行业要求，并将利用SPAD阵列和激光光源绘制海底基础设施地图。预计该项目将导致其他水下应用-该项目将成为在海底探测和测绘行业更广泛地部署单光子成像的先行者。该项目将具有世界级背景的主要工业和研究机构聚集在一起，合作开发一种基于时间相关单光子计数(TCSPC)成像技术的商业可行的海底成像系统。其关键目标是提供一个基于新型2D空间单光子阵列探测器技术的完整成像系统，该系统可以部署在水下运载器上，并在大距离或高于海底的高空稳健地生成3D图像和地图。

High resolution 3D maps are required for an increasing number of key subsea applications from installation and operation of offshore wind energy, asset decommissioning, environmental monitoring, and defence. Quantum photonic detection technologies can offer a step change in the resolution, accuracy, coverage, and speed of generation of these maps compared to existing acoustic or traditional imaging solutions. The approach proposed in this project differs from other techniques, as it relies on state-of-the-art single photon detection technologies, which allow for three-dimensional imaging with extremely low light level return, typically less than one photon per pixel (in the so-called "sparse-photon" regime) - that corresponds to high underwater attenuation.Single-photon detection is a quantum technology which has recently been exploited for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications. One major advantage for underwater imaging is that it is in the ideal spectral region for CMOS SPAD detectors, which have made significant recent advantages in functionality of large efficient SPAD detector arrays. This project is led by the marine industry and addresses current industry requirements and will utilise SPAD arrays and laser sources for subsea infrastructure mapping. It is expected that the project will lead to other underwater applications - this project will act as a pathfinder to more widespread deployment of single-photon imaging in the subsea inspection and mapping industry.This project brings together key Industrial and Research institutions with world-class backgrounds to collaboratively develop a commercially viable subsea imaging system based on the time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) imaging technique. The key objective is to deliver a complete imaging system based on novel 2D spatial single photon array detector technology, which can be deployed to a subsea vehicle and robustly generate 3D images and maps at large stand-off distances or high altitude above the sea floor.