Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Seabed classification involves the analysis of acoustic remote sensing data to characterize the physical,geological, and biological properties of ocean, lake, and river beds for production of thematic maps. Acousticremote sensing can be done using almost any sonar, but multibeam echo sounders (MBES) have become afavored and widely used technique in recent years for seafloor reconnaissance surveys in a wide range of oceansector industries. MBES record information relating to seafloor bathymetry (depth), and acoustic seafloorbackscatter strength (which can be used to infer seafloor geological and habitat characteristics). Automatedsoftware methods offer an objective and robust classification approach compared to conventional expert ""byeye"" interpretation of such data sets to produce interpreted maps of seafloor features (e.g. maps of seafloorsediments or seafloor habitats). Even though software classification methods have progressed over the pastdecade, there is still significant scope for innovation and improvement of software tools for semi-automatedclassification of the MBES data sets. In this collaborative project, NSCC will partner with Maritime WayScientific Ltd. to explore new and innovative segmentation routines for improved seafloor classification andcharacterization of MBES data sets. These routines will be tested on MBES data sets held by NSCC tovalidation performance compared against in situ ground-truthing of the seafloor geological and habitatcharacteristics. The anticipated scientific and technical advances offer direct value to the private sector partnerby providing classification/segmentation routines for improvement of their seafloor classification softwareproducts. This will meet market demand for a wide cross section of their clients using the software for MBESbackscatter classification, with follow-on benefits for improved thematic map production across a wide crosssection of ocean sector industries (i.e. benefits afforded by improved seafloor map production for applicationfor oil and gas exploration, seafloor cable routing, fisheries and conservation mapping).