Buried target detection with a synthetic aperture sonar

The Coastal Systems Station high frequency / low frequency synthetic aperture sonar (HF/LF SAS) has demonstrated its capability to generate high-resolution images of targets on the seafloor and targets buried in the sediment. Synthetic aperture sonars are particularly advantageous to use for buried target detection since their large effective array sizes produce high resolution images with high signal-to-noise ratios at frequencies that are effective at penetrating the sediment. This sonar has previously had its low frequency projectors and receivers upgraded to cover the broadband frequency region 8 to 55 kHz. Experimental results on buried target detection are discussed