Integrated ocean observing systems: the role of seafloor mapping technologies

The oceans have played a vital and complex role in human evolution and existence. As the Earth´s population increases, we need a better understanding of ocean-bottom dynamics in order to make sound decisions on ocean-related topics (e.g., fisheries, transportation, industry, recreation, and military operations). An integrated ocean observing system offers a long-term, systematic approach for making oceanographic data available to a wide range of managers, engineers, and scientists. In this paper, we present seafloor-mapping and data-handling techniques that may be implemented as part of continental shelf monitoring programs. Designing a successful integrated observing system will require some fundamental decisions on (1) the type of data to be collected, (2) the amount of processing required on these data set for an integrated ocean observing system will consist of seafloor maps. The generation of these maps will require the use of shipboard, towed and AUV sensor platforms, upon which multibeam, side-scan sonar, magnetometer, and seismic acquisition systems (among others) may be mounted. Existing navigation, acquisition, and processing technology allows for the production of high-resolution, high-accuracy, seafloor images. These individual data sets, when geographically co-registered and merged (or fused), support three-dimensional analysis and interpretation of the seabed and associated substrate. Such analyses should be possible in near real-time so that coincident survey or sampling programs can be designed or modified to utilize ship time as efficiently as possible. In addition, a methodology must be implemented for allowing direct comparison of different vintages of survey data (i.e., consistent, accurate co-registration of data sets). Our paper presents the results from applying a suite of COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) products to a data set composed of multibeam, side scan sonar, and seismic data.