Using synthetic aperture sonar in marine archaeological surveys - Some first experiences

Acoustic sensors like side scan sonars and multibeam echosounders are important tools in marine archaeology. In this paper we will give a very brief explanation of the principles behind SAS compared to conventional SSS, and how these differences affect practical use for archaeological purposes. We will also describe requirements and procedures for deployment, operation and data processing. We will show examples of SAS output, both imagery and bathymetry, demonstrating resolution and range. We will present some first experiences from using SAS for marine archaeological purposes, pros and cons compared to traditional SSS, and discuss some perspectives for future applications.