Title :
Simulation of multiple-receiver, broadband interferometric SAS imagery
Author :
Hunter, Alan I. ; Hayes, Michael P. ; Gough, Peter T.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Canterbury Univ., Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract :
Interferometric synthetic aperture sonar (InSAS) is a technique for high-resolution, 3-dimensional underwater imaging. A significant problem in developing and testing InSAS algorithms is the difficulty in obtaining ground-truth data to compare with the reconstructed imagery/bathymetry. Thus, a reliable simulation model is a useful aid. Most SAS simulation models are based on a point-scatterer representation of the underwater scene. The point-scatterer model is computationally inefficient for simulating large, realistic scenes. Furthermore, effects such as aspect-dependent scattering, speckle, shadowing, and multiple-scattering are not replicated easily. In this paper we present an efficient model for the realistic simulation of multiple-receiver InSAS imagery. The model is based on a facet representation of the underwater scene. The field scattered by each facet is realised using statistics determined by the Kirchoff method and occlusions and multiple-scattering are resolved by ray-tracing. The simulation of InSAS imagery is demonstrated using the parameters of our Kiwi-SAS system. The simulated imagery is shown to include the characteristic effects of aspect-dependent scattering, speckle, and shadowing.
Keywords :
bathymetry; image reconstruction; interferometry; oceanographic techniques; sonar imaging; synthetic aperture sonar; 3D underwater imaging; InSAS algorithms; Kirchoff method; Kiwi-SAS system; aspect-dependent scattering; bathymetry; broadband interferometric SAS imagery; facet representation; ground-truth data; imagery simulation; interferometric synthetic aperture sonar; multiple-receiver interferometric SAS imagery; multiple-scattering; occlusions; point-scatterer model; point-scatterer representation; ray tracing; reconstructed imagery; replication; shadowing; simulation model; speckle; underwater scene; Computational modeling; High-resolution imaging; Image reconstruction; Layout; Scattering; Shadow mapping; Speckle; Statistics; Synthetic aperture sonar; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
OCEANS 2003. Proceedings
Conference_Location :
San Diego, CA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-933957-30-0
DOI :
10.1109/OCEANS.2003.178322