Dynamic error analysis and correction

Hughes Clarke

Chair Funding

As swath sonar systems have improved, the dominant influence of error sources due to bottom detection, orientation and refraction have gradually reduced. Today it is quite feasible to deliver hydrographic quality survey data. Indeed, it is clear that the 1-2.3% accuracy standards invoked are far larger than the resolution capability of these sonars (which exist at the ~0.2% level). In order, however, to exploit this resolution capability, small error sources, previously ignored, have come to be seen as a major barrier in the delivery of high quality products.

These small error sources often only manifest themselves as periodic oscillations of the seafloor at the ~<0.5% level. Yet, because of improvements in visualization they are increasing apparent. Their cause is usually due to small imperfections in the system integration.

The OMG has been aware of these problems since 1992 and has developed custom software (the DelayEditor toolkit) to investigate them. Nevertheless, such tools are still not available in the commercial software sector and the existing OMG tools are not very intuitive and rely on human interpretation. The intent here is to automate the analysis process so that less trained staff can recognize and fix these small residual problems. This is the one of the particular focuses of our new active research.