Testing the application of synthetic aperture sonar for seafloor habitat mapping

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Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) is a revolutionary seafloor mapping technique that provides ultra-high-resolution imagery at the seabed at superior coverage rates. Kraken Robotic Systems Inc. (Kraken) is a marine technology company that develops and markets advanced sonar sensors, including SAS, for military and commercial applications. The company's primary market for their SAS technology (~70% sales) is military and defense customers, where the ultra-high-resolution imagery is used for underwater object detection and mapping. Kraken wish to expand its civilian customer base to match or exceed that of its military clients. To achieve this goal, there is a need to demonstrate the technology for other, untested applications (e.g., geological, engineering or habitat mapping applications) in expanded customer sectors for Kraken (e.g., fisheries, aquaculture, marine construction, and ocean energy sectors). Kraken and the NSCC Applied Oceans Research Group (AORG) will work together to conduct proof-of-concept tests of the technology in these other areas of application. Surveys will be conducted in the vicinity of Halifax Harbour, offering a variety of seafloor types over which to test the technology. The data will be collected using the Kraken KATFISH actively-controlled towed vehicle fitted with the SAS system. The seafloor SAS data will be ground-validated by NSCC using an underwater ultra-high definition video system developed at NSCC and mounted on a drop camera frame. These data will then be processed using data integration techniques to test the utility of the SAS data for generating seafloor habitat and surficial sediment maps. The result of these research activities will offer short to medium term benefits to Kraken through demonstration of the advantages of SAS for non-military application. The collaboration will also advance the general field of seafloor habitat mapping, testing the latest ocean floor mapping technology. ******