Survey of seafloor targets with varied sizes by multi beam sonar in different depth water

Multi beam sonar needs complex data processing lying on human intervention to get accurate depth contour and low accuracy in sonar image which prevent its popular use in surveying seafloor targets. To survey seafloor target in different depth by GeoSwath, this article presents survey parameter setting method such as ping length, ship velocity to increase points over targets, navigation line parallel to heading of target during survey, adopting along track filter to depth data processing and using TVG control over amplitude data to get accurate depth grid and sonar image of seafloor target. Finally, the way is used to measure the artificial object in harbor and two ship wrecks at sea, which improve GeoSwath survey capability with compound detection and is helpful for make precise map for waterway. Also this work is helpful to achieve detecting seafloor objects fast, accurately, effectively in underwater large scale area during salvation and rescue task. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland