Development of a novel method for multibeam sonar backscatter calibration

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The pace of development in ocean mapping technologies has accelerated over the past few decades, with rapid advancement in sonar technology stemming from improvements in geographic positioning capabilities, computer processing power, and sonar hardware and software design. Nevertheless, there are still significant technical and scientific challenges associated with the adoption and application of these mapping technologies, which is impeding the pace of growth of a number of ocean sector industries who could benefit from these technologies. One major challenge is the acquisition and processing of MBES backscatter data (an acoustic measurement from multibeam sonar systems providing information on seafloor characteristics). Quality Positioning Services BV (QPS) are developing software tools for this purpose, but are facing challenges due to the uncalibrated nature of the backscatter data, and inconsistencies in the way the backscatter signal is measured and recorded between multibeam sonars offered by different sonar manufacturers. QPS have a need to undertake research to develop and test novel backscatter calibration approaches in the field from which they can provide recommendation on in-field calibration/standardization of backscatter to their clients, and also develop post processing tools in-house within their software suite for posteriori MBES backscatter calibration/correction. NSCC will partner with QPS, in this research project to undertake a proof-of-concept field trial to test new, commercially available passive sonar reflection technologies for this purpose. The project will allow QPS to evaluate these passive sonar reflection devices for this application, and assess the feasibility of developing software tools for correction and processing of backscatter data sets using information from a calibration site.