Adjustment of backscatter data collected by multi-sector multi-swath multibeam echo sounders

While technological innovation and good survey practice has rendered bathymetric data collection more efficient and measurements both precise and accurate, so much cannot be said about backscatter data. Indeed, being more sensitive to geometrical, environmental and system-dependent effects, backscatter measurements suffer from poor quality when the latter effects are not accounted for in data collection and processing steps. A major detrimental component on backscatter measurements is the modulating effect of the echo sounder’s transmission sector pattern(s). This effect is clearly seen in backscatter images from echo sounders with multi-sector and multi-swath capabilities.

backscatter strength | SonarScope | multibeam echo sounder