Detection of Shoals in SEASAT Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery: Selected Case Studies.

Abstract

Ocean-going vessels have increased in size and draft in recent years, making traditional waterways too shallow and dangerous for use, and new shipping methods and increased costs require shorter transit times. Therefore, as new shipping routes are being sought, limited hydrographic survey resources must be efficiently applied. This study sought to demonstrate the feasibility of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery as a tool for hydrographic presurvey planning by analyzing SAR imagery of Shelikof Strait, Alaska. Anomalous brightness patterns visible in SAR imagery were related to interactions between ocean phenomena and bathymetric features, and an analysis of wave refraction was performed using optical Fourier transform (OFT)-measured wave spectra. The study results showed surface gravity wave refraction as measured by OFT's can be used to make quantitative estimates of water depths, generally within 40% error. Also, anomalous brightness patterns visible in SAR imagery indicate possible hazards to navigation. However, the absence of an anomalous pattern does not mean a hazard is not present. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA161181

Entities

People

  • Ronald L. Dickerman

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Case Studies
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Diffraction
  • Doppler Effect
  • Engineering
  • Geography
  • Gravity Waves
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Navigation
  • Ocean Waves
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans
  • Refraction
  • Remote Sensing
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar
  • Topography

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Computer Vision.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.