Synthetic array processing for underwater mapping applications

This paper presents results on the extension of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technique to underwater mapping applications. Due to the modest propagation speed of acoustic waves in water, the areal mapping rate is found to be limited. A number of approaches are discussed in the paper which have the potential of significantly increasing the mapping rate. The map resolutions, both in azimuth and range, are derived for a synthetic array system employing multiple elements. The digital processing requirements such as the complex multiplication rate and memory size are determined. It was found that the digital signal processing requirements for many viable mapping systems are within the capability of existing processing hard-ware.