Computer vision and machine learning algorithms for detecting marine life from acoustic backscatter time series

我们提出的研究探索了使用计算机视觉和机器学习技术从回声测深仪数据中检测视觉模式的新方法。从传统的声学数据处理模式切换到基于图像分析和视觉学习的算法可以为回声测深数据提供新的见解，并可以使我们的合作伙伴公司丰富其自动数据处理服务组合。我们的工业合作伙伴是ASL环境科学公司（ASL），一家总部位于维多利亚的独资公司，BC。ASL是环境监测创新解决方案的全球领导者，在海洋学、声学、遥感和冰研究产品以及科学咨询服务方面拥有40多年的经验。自2000年以来，ASL一直在建造声学反向散射回声测深仪。到目前为止，ASL提供的与回声测深仪有关的数据处理软件非常有限。向ASL的产品组合中添加新的数据产品可以满足其更大客户群的重要需求，这与他们解释和分析更大量复杂数据的能力有关。这项拟议的研究建立在当前NSERC Engage资助期间获得的令人鼓舞的结果的基础上，该资助使我们能够与ASL建立首次合作。我们将解决在Engage项目中发现的局限性，并使用图像处理，深度学习和模式识别技术，深入研究从回声测深仪数据中检测海洋生物的问题。

Our proposed research explores novel ways of detecting visual patterns from echosounder data usingcomputer vision and machine learning techniques. Switching from the traditional acoustic data processingparadigm to image analysis and visual learning-based algorithms may provide new insights into echosounderdata, and may enable our partner company to enrich their portfolio of automatic data processing services.Our industrial partner is ASL Environmental Sciences Inc (ASL), an employee-owned company based inVictoria, BC. ASL is a global leader in innovative solutions for environmental monitoring and has over 40years of experience in oceanographic, acoustic, remote sensing and ice research products and scientificconsulting services. Since 2000, ASL has been building acoustic backscatter echosounders. Until now, ASLhas provided very limited data processing software related to its echosounders. Adding new data products toASL's portfolio addresses an important need of its larger base of customers, which relates to their ability tointerpret and analyze higher amounts of complex data.This proposed research builds on encouraging results obtained during a current NSERC Engage grant that hasenabled us to establish a first collaboration with ASL. We will address the limitations identified during theEngage project and dig deeper into the problem of detecting marine life from echosounder data, using imageprocessing, deep learning and pattern recognition techniques.