Synthetic Aperture Sonar low frequency vs. high frequency automatic contact generation

Abstract

Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) bottom mapping sensors are on the verge of entering operational use. Here we examine the utility of both the low and high frequency output of SAS systems recorded from trials to determine their utility in the automatic contact generation scheme described in the companion paper "Automated Change Detection using Synthetic Aperture Sonar Imagery " [1]. The survey area covered by the trial has contacts called separately by the high and low frequency SAS output. The results are compared with a manual survey of the data to determine accuracy. The two frequency results are also compared by processing time. The data are then used to determine how merging the two outputs may yield an improved contact calling algorithm.