Area and depth coverage assessment for low-frequency synthetic aperture sonar unexploded ordnance detection surveys

Abstract

Low frequency synthetic aperture sonar (LF-SAS) is a key technique for the detection and characterization of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the underwater environment. For buried UXO, however, it is rather difficult to determine the range and depth up to which the detection of UXO is feasible. This critically depends on the detection system properties, environmental properties such as water depth and sediment type, target properties, and the UXO burial depth. For the evaluation of the effectiveness of UXO detection surveys, it is therefore important to assess up to which range and depth the objects of interest are detectable. This paper presents the development of a coverage assessment approach, including the application to data acquired by TNO’s LF-SAS MUD system. Simulation results for the signal-to-reverberation ratio (SRR) for a scientific cylindrical target agree well with measurements, and single-view coverage assessment results are in agreement with range and depth trends in SRR observed in experimental data.