Simulation and analysis of synthetic sidescan sonar images

The sidescan sonar process produces a representation in image form of the seabed; however, no closed-form analytic expression or direct modelling technique exists to represent this complex process. The basic principle is presented for a model for the simulation of sidescan sonar, which produces as its output a qualitative image of the form generated by the actual sidescan. The model considers the underlying physical processes including the effects of the refractive water medium, the scattering from the seabed and the transducer motion and directivity characteristics. The statistical and visual techniques that have been applied to attempt to overcome the resulting problems of testing and verifying the images output by the sonar simulation model are then discussed. © IEE, 1997.