Precise Multibeam Acoustic Bathymetry

The maximum error in ocean depth measurement as specified by the International Hydrographic Organization is 1% for depth greater than 30m. Current acoustic multibeam bathymetric systems used for depth measurement are subject to errors from various sources which may significantly exceed this limit. The lack of sound speed profiles may be one significant source of error. Because of the limited ability of sound speed profile measurement, depth values are usually estimated using an assumed profile. If actual sound speed profiles are known, depth estimate errors can be corrected using ray-tracing methods. For depth measurements, the calculation of the location at which a sound pulse impinges on the sea bottom varies with the variation of the sound speed profile. We demonstrate that this location is almost unchanged for a family of sound speed profiles with the same surface value and the same area under them. Based on this observation, we can construct a simple constant-gradient equivalent sound speed profile to correct errors. Compared with ray-tracing methods, the equivalent sound speed profile method is more efficient. If a vertical depth is known (or independently measured), then depth correction for a multibeam system can be accomplished without knowledge of the actual sound speed profile. This leads to a new type of precise acoustic multibeam bathymetric system.     

Precise Multibeam Acoustic Bathymetry

The maximum error in ocean depth measurement as specified by the International Hydrographic Organization is 1% for depth greater than 30m. Current acoustic multibeam bathymetric systems used for depth measurement are subject to errors from various sources which may significantly exceed this limit. The lack of sound speed profiles may be one significant source of error. Because of the limited ability of sound speed profile measurement, depth values are usually estimated using an assumed profile. If actual sound speed profiles are known, depth estimate errors can be corrected using ray-tracing methods. For depth measurements, the calculation of the location at which a sound pulse impinges on the sea bottom varies with the variation of the sound speed profile. We demonstrate that this location is almost unchanged for a family of sound speed profiles with the same surface value and the same area under them. Based on this observation, we can construct a simple constant-gradient equivalent sound speed profile to correct errors. Compared with ray-tracing methods, the equivalent sound speed profile method is more efficient. If a vertical depth is known (or independently measured), then depth correction for a multibeam system can be accomplished without knowledge of the actual sound speed profile. This leads to a new type of precise acoustic multibeam bathymetric system.     

A Post-Processing Method for the Removal of Refraction Artifacts in Multibeam Bathymetry Data

Sound refraction artifacts are often present in multibeam swath bathymetry data. For a flat array, the artifacts are usually more serious in outer beams than in inner beams. In a 3D topographical mapping they appear as ridges that parallel the tracks of the vessel. To shorten the survey time, the outer beams should be utilized as often as possible. Therefore, the refraction errors should be removed. In this paper, we present a model of reduced sound speed profile that consists of three water layers. The sound speed of the two upper layers has a constant gradient, and the third layer has the same sound speed as the most bottom measured layer. The model parameters can be searched based on the principle of the minimum difference of depth between the overlap of two neighboring swaths. The horizontal position and depth of each beam can be accordingly recalculated using the model parameters. To avoid being trapped in local optimum, the initial search scope is limited according to assumed lunch angle and travel time in each subregion. The method is verified by comparing the simulated and real data.     

Correction for depth biases to shallow water multibeam bathymetric data

Vertical errors often present in multibeam swath bathymetric data. They are mainly sourced by sound refraction, internal wave disturbance, imperfect tide correction, transducer mounting, long period heave, static draft change, dynamic squat and dynamic motion residuals, etc. Although they can be partly removed or reduced by specific algorithms, the synthesized depth biases are unavoidable and sometimes have an important influence on high precise utilization of the final bathymetric data. In order to confidently identify the decimeter-level changes in seabed morphology by MBES, we must remove or weaken depth biases and improve the precision of multibeam bathymetry further. The fixed-interval profiles that are perpendicular to the vessel track are generated to adjust depth biases between swaths. We present a kind of postprocessing method to minimize the depth biases by the histogram of cumulative depth biases. The datum line in each profile can be obtained by the maximum value of histogram. The corrections of depth biases can be calculated according to the datum line. And then the quality of final bathymetry can be improved by the corrections. The method is verified by a field test.     

SeaBeam2100多波束系统的声速误差分析

声速是多波束测深系统进行水深测量的重要参数。以SeaBeam2100多波束系统为例,结合实测资料,以MB-system多波束处理软件为辅助,对声速数据进行了分析,并深入探讨了声速剖面对SeaBeam2100多波束系统测深精度所产生的影响。研究表明,声速(尤其是表层声速)对所测水深的精确度起着关键作用。合理的声速剖面是获得高精度多波束测深资料的基本保证。     

基于中值滤波加权修正的多波束声呐测深数据趋势面滤波方法

针对传统趋势面滤波方法中多项式拟合曲面系数向量的求取和作为阈值的均方根误差的求取都受到异常数据的影响,使该方法在异常测深数据较多的情况下滤波效果不佳的问题,提出了一种中值滤波加权修正的改进方法。在构造趋势面之前,对水深数据进行加权修正,以前后两次修正后数据的拟合优度的变化量作为是否进行下一步水深修正的依据,利用最终修正后的水深数据求取多项式拟合曲面系数向量和均方根误差,大幅降低了异常数据的影响,具有很强的抗差性。经仿真模拟数据和多波束实测数据滤波试验,该方法在异常数据较多的情况下依然良好,能够保持良好的滤波效果,明显优于传统趋势面滤波;同时,该方法能够保持较高的运算效率,适用于海量多波束测深数据的自动滤波。     

利用相邻测线重叠区域进行多波束测深横摇运动残差改正

针对多波束测深条带边缘波束易受到姿态和声速等多种误差影响、相对中央波束数据质量较低的问题,本文提出一种利用相邻测线重叠区域对多波束测深数据边缘波束进行横摇运动残差改正的模型,提高边缘波束测深数据的质量。使用沿航向的测深点匹配插值模型,完成中央波束测深点与边缘波束测深点的匹配,得到边缘波束测深误差值;使用横摇运动残差改正模型,实现顾及姿态角的条件下补偿波束入射角。计算实例表明：本文模型能够较为准确地提取边缘波束测深误差值,改正后的海底地形削弱了误差导致的上下起伏,有效地减少了影响边缘波束的多种误差,具有实际的工程应用价值。     

声速剖面EOF表示对多波束水深数据的影响研究

基于实测数据,将测区内声速剖面进行EOF表示,进而采用常梯度分层声线跟踪法对EOF表示的声速剖面和实测声速剖面进行比对,统计有效波束比。比对结果表明:采用EOF表示的声速剖面进行的水深数据改正能够满足多波束水深测量的精度指标要求,论证了采用EOF方法表示多波束勘测水深声速剖面场的有效性。     

多波束测深残余折射处理技术的对比研究

针对多波束条幅存在的残余声线折射影响,加拿大Caris HIPS多波束资料处理软件除了支持声速剖面改正外,还提供了一个折射改正工具。该折射改正工具简单易用,效果所见即所得,能够快速消除声线折射产生的假地形。通过实测数据对这两种改正方法的结果进行了比较。     

Simultaneous operation of the Sea Beam multibeam echo-sounder andthe SeaMARC II bathymetric sidescan sonar system

An experiment aboard the Scripps Institution of Oceanography's RV Thomas Washington has demonstrated the seafloor mapping advantages to be derived from combining the high-resolution bathymetry of a multibeam echo-sounder with the sidescan acoustic imaging plus wide-swath bathymetry of a shallow-towed bathymetric sidescan sonar. To a void acoustic interference between the ship's 12-kHz Sea Beam multibeam echo-sounder and the 11-12-kHz SeaMARC II bathymetric sidescan sonar system during simultaneous operations, Sea Beam transmit cycles were scheduled around SeaMARC II timing events with a sound source synchronization unit originally developed for concurrent single-channel seismic, Sea Beam, and 3.5-kHz profile operations. The scheduling algorithm implemented for Sea Beam plus SeaMARC II operations is discussed, and the initial results showing their combined seafloor mapping capabilities are presented     

多波束水深测量误差源分析与成果质量评定

结合多波束测深系统在海洋水深测量实际生产中的应用,分析了受复杂海洋动态环境以及仪器自身原因等内外部因素影响易产生的各种粗差和系统性偏差,探讨了适用于多波束测深系统获取的水深测量成果的质量控制和检验指标,制定了涵盖多波束测深数据采集、处理、成果制作、验收等全过程的质量检验方案。     

序统计滤波估计检测海洋测深异常数据

根据海洋水深数据处理的要求，构建了海洋水深数据的序统计滤波模型，并根据水深异常数据的特点，提出了离差法判定水深异常数据，在遵循“舍深取浅”这一基本海洋数据处理原则基础上，设计了海洋水深异常数据检测的序统计滤波方案。实例分析表明，该滤波方案能够有效地检测并剔除零水深、负水深、孤立突跳水深，保留连续（个数多于（含）3个的）异常水深，在序统计滤波异常数据检测的基础上剔除粗差，能大幅提高粗差检测的效率。     

A new method for weakening the combined effect of residual errors on multibeam bathymetric data

Multibeam bathymetric system (MBS) has been widely applied in the marine surveying for providing high-resolution seabed topography. However, some factors degrade the precision of bathymetry, including the sound velocity, the vessel attitude, the misalignment angle of the transducer and so on. Although these factors have been corrected strictly in bathymetric data processing, the final bathymetric result is still affected by their residual errors. In deep water, the result usually cannot meet the requirements of high-precision seabed topography. The combined effect of these residual errors is systematic, and it’s difficult to separate and weaken the effect using traditional single-error correction methods. Therefore, the paper puts forward a new method for weakening the effect of residual errors based on the frequency-spectrum characteristics of seabed topography and multibeam bathymetric data. Four steps, namely the separation of the low-frequency and the high-frequency part of bathymetric data, the reconstruction of the trend of actual seabed topography, the merging of the actual trend and the extracted microtopography, and the accuracy evaluation, are involved in the method. Experiment results prove that the proposed method could weaken the combined effect of residual errors on multibeam bathymetric data and efficiently improve the accuracy of the final post-processing results. We suggest that the method should be widely applied to MBS data processing in deep water.     

声速剖面对多波束测深影响的新认识

介绍了声速剖面对多波束测深的影响,并得出了当声速剖面的某一节点偏大时,对边缘多波束的影响使水深偏浅,而对中央部分的波束使水深偏深;当声速剖面的某一节点偏小时,结果反之。该结果对野外资料采集及声速剖面编辑具有特别实际的指导意义。最后指出：当声速剖面出现误差时,中央波束的测深精度并不一定比其他波束的测深精度高。     

多波束测深数据中系统偏差改正方法研究——以 2003 年 SeaBat900X 东海调查数据为例

多波束测量过程中,受到多种因素的影响,不可避免地存在各种误差,其中系统某个部件出现故障也不少见,如换能器、行波管、大功率微波开关或表层声速仪等器件功能不正常,引起多波束每 ping (一个发射接收周期） 数据中部分固定波束号的测深结果发生系统性偏移,以 2003 年东海调查 SeaBat900X 数据为例,其在垂直航向正投影平面上出现类似“W”字型的系统误差。本文基于该批次数据,系统分析了该类型系统偏差成因及外观表现,针对性提出基于等均值-方差拟合模型的改正方法,首先对异常区域和正常区域分别拟合地形趋势线,统计其均值和方差;然后以正常区域为基准,对异常区域内数据进行压缩和移动;最后通过面积差法,对数据中存在的折射残差进行消除,从而有效去除“W”型残差。文中实测数据验证了本文算法的有效性和可行性,对多波束其他类型的测深系统偏差处理具有一定的参考意义。     

浅水多波束换能器声学性能检测方法研究

浅水多波束换能器主要声学指标能够直接或间接地反映系统性能指标,因此利用水池试验对系统换能器声学性能指标进行检测,不但能够初步掌握系统的性能,而且可以降低湖试或海试的风险。通过概括多波束测深系统核心性能与换能器声学指标的对应关系,按照水声计量检定规程和方法,论述了主要声学指标的计算方法,研究了自由场条件下声学指标的检测方法和注意事项,并结合国产多波束系统水池试验,验证了方法的可行性。     

多波束测深系统声速校正

海水声速是多波束测深系统进行水深测量的基本参数之一,声速剖面正确与否直接影响测量结果的精度和可靠性。声速校正为多波束测深系统提供了正确的声速剖面,根据声速剖面垂向上的变化规律,对原始声速数据进行科学采点,运用软件方法或实验方法对声速剖面进行编辑获得声速数据,最终取得合理可靠的水深值。这里对南海SA12试验区采集的声速资料进行了分析,以SeaBeam2100多波速测深系统为例,对声速校正的技术方法进行了探讨。     

Shallow-water imaging multibeam sonars: A new tool for investigating seafloor processes in the coastal zone and on the continental shelf

Hydrographic quality bathymetry and quantitative acoustic backscatter data are now being acquired in shallow water on a routine basis using high frequency multibeam sonars. The data provided by these systems produce hitherto unobtainable information about geomorphology and seafloor geologic processes in the coastal zone and on the continental shelf.Before one can use the multibeam data for hydrography or quantitative acoustic backscatter studies, however, it is essential to be able to correct for systematic errors in the data. For bathymetric data, artifacts common to deep-water systems (roll, refraction, positioning) need to be corrected. In addition, the potentially far greater effects of tides, heave, vessel lift/squat, antenna motion and internal time delays become of increasing importance in shallower water. Such artifacts now cause greater errors in hydrographic data quality than bottom detection. Many of these artifacts are a result of imperfect motion sensing, however, new methods such as differential GPS hold great potential for resolving such limitations. For backscatter data, while the system response is well characterised, significant post processing is required to remove residual effects of imaging geometry, gain adjustments and water column effects. With the removal of these system artifacts and the establishment of a calibrated test site in intertidal regions (where the seabed may be intimately examined by eye) one can build up a sediment classification scheme for routine regional seafloor identification.When properly processed, high frequency multibeam sonar data can provide a view of seafloor geology and geomorphology at resolutions of as little as a few decimetres. Specific applications include quantitative estimation of sediment transport rates in large-scale sediment waves, volume effects of iceberg scouring, extent and style of seafloor mass-wasting and delineation of structural trends in bedrock. In addition, the imagery potentially provides a means of quantitative classification of seafloor lithology, allowing sedimentologists the ability to examine spatial distributions of seabed sediment type without resorting to subjective estimation or prohibitively expensive bottom-sampling programs. Using Simrad EM100 and EM1000 sonars as an example, this paper illustrates the nature and scale of possible artifacts, the necessary post-processing steps and shows specific applications of these sonars.     

多波束测深质量评价方法分析

利用Caris多波束处理软件、Global Mapper图形处理和Surfer处理软件中三角网网格化的方法来处理多波束水深数据,从整个测量范围来做水深准确度检验,由传统的水深数据处理线统计发展到面统计,能更有效的评价多波束资料的质量,提高质量控制的水平。     

The fate of dumped sediments monitored by a high-resolution multibeam echosounder system,Weser Estuary,German Bight

With the development of high-resolution multibeam echosounder systems (MBES) for surveying shallow-water areas a new tool is available to monitor rapid changes in seabed morphology as, e.g., caused by the dumping of dredge spoil in coastal waters. In this study, four data sets of repeated bathymetric surveys with a MBES were processed and analyzed. The data were collected in a 1.94-km² dumping site in the outer Weser Estuary (German Bight). Between June and December 1998, 2.6 million m³ of dredged sediment were deposited there. The bathymetric maps generated in the course of this study reveal features such as subaqueous dunes, scour holes, and mounds of dumped dredge spoil. The mean water depth decreased by about 1 m during the dumping period. Furthermore, difference grids showing changes in sediment volume allowed a calculation of the sediment budget for the monitored area. After a time period of only 5 months, 0.5 million m³ of the originally dumped 2.6 million m³ of dredge spoil had already been removed from the dumping site.