Textural Segmentation of High-Resolution Sidescan Sonar Images.

摘要

The collection of high-frequency (455 kHz) sidescan data from tactical sonars used in mine countermeasures (MCM) is typically for the purpose of object and clutter identification. The large amounts of high-frequency high- resolution sidescan imagery are also a potential source of data for environmental battlespace characterization. The high resolution of the 455 kHz sonar imagery also provides much information about the surficial bottom sediments, however their acoustic scattering properties are not well understood at high frequencies. Textural characteristics of the high-resolution imagery are therefore used to represent the different scattering properties of various sediment types. The fusion of this data with collateral seafloor information from other tactical sensors or databases can be used for classification. The operational goal is to use the sidescan-derived features with a vertical- incidence sediment classifier to infer sediment properties at angles off of vertical incidence that can then be used in mine burial prediction models, acoustic performance models, and survey planning.