Optical Variability and Bottom Classification in Turbid Waters
Abstract
LONG-TERM GOALS. The development of an optical methodology, valid for Case II coastal waters, for the remote classification of the sea bottom including sediment type (calcareous/quartz sand, clay, mud), benthic flora (benthic diatom and algal mats, seagrasses, green and red macrophytes), and bottom structure (reef, rock). The methodology will exploit elastic and inelastic spectral information as well as 3-dimensional size, shape, and texture information determined by optical methods. OBJECTIVES. The deconvolution of the components of the underwater and water-leaving light fields in coastal waters. The determination of feature vectors, including 3-D morphology, which hold information unique to different bottom types and structure for use in an automatic classification strategy. APPROACH This project utilizes the Bottom Classification/Albedo Package (BCAP), a suite of optical instrumentation developed under previous ONR funding, to acquire the hyperspectral database required to deconvolve the components of the underwater and water-leaving light fields. In situ instrumentation includes a 512-channel upwelling radiometer, a 512-channel downwelling irradiometer, two, 6-channel, intensified bottom cameras, a dual-laser, optical altimeter/chlorophyll probe, instrumentation to measure attenuation, absorption, and fluorescence at various wavelengths, and a real-time microtopography assembly. The package is configured for deployment on either a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA634192
Entities
People
- David K. Costello
- Kendall L. Carder
Organizations
- University of South Florida