Comments on “Principal Component Analysis of Single-Beam Echo-Sounder Signal Features for Seafloor Classification” by A. R. Amiri-Simkooei, M. Snellen, and D. G. Simons

Author

Preston, J.M. ; Biffard, B.R.

Author_Institution

Quester Tangent Corp., Saanichton, BC, Canada

Volume

37

Issue

4

fYear

2012

Firstpage

764

Lastpage

765

Abstract

Acoustic seabed classification with single-beam sounders is both an established process and a research topic. A recent paper (IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 259-271, Apr. 2011) summarizes some popular techniques, demonstrating that they can generate realistic sediment maps. In the conclusion of that paper, it is claimed that the algorithms therein can substitute for a widely used commercial software suite. This claim is not correct. Among other issues, the techniques in that paper fall short of current practice in two areas: compensation for varying water depths and choosing the best number of clusters in unsupervised classification.

Keywords

acoustic signal processing; bathymetry; echo; geophysical signal processing; oceanographic techniques; principal component analysis; sediments; signal classification; underwater sound; acoustic seabed classification; principal component analysis; seafloor classification; sediment map; single-beam echo-sounder signal feature; unsupervised classification; water depth; Classification algorithms; Principal component analysis; Sea floor; Sea measurements; Sediments; Underwater acoustics; Classification algorithms; principal component analysis (PCA); single-beam echo sounder;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Oceanic Engineering, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0364-9059

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JOE.2012.2206192

Filename

6263249