Theory and test of bathymetric side scan sonar

Bathymetric, or interferometric, side-scan-sonars offer great improvement over conventional hydrographic and bathymetric techniques, because their broad swath makes it possible to survey an area more efficiently, their high spatial resolution makes it less likely to miss an obstruction of feature, and their image output gives valuable information about the bottom composition. A theoretical model of the phase measurement errors that limit accuracy is presented. Tests of a shallow-water bathymetric side-scan sonar, the Bathyscan 300, were conducted in August, 1987, in the Chesapeake Bay. The results of those tests, as well as the performance demonstrated by other bathymetric side-scan sonars, are compared to the predictions of the model.>