The Impact of Side-Scan Sonar Resolution and Acoustic Shadow Phenomenon on the Quality of Sonar Imagery and Data Interpretation Capabilities

Abstract

Side-scan sonar is designed and used for a variety of survey work, in both military and civilian fields. These systems provide acoustic imageries that play a significant role in a variety of marine and inland applications. For this reason, it is extremely important that the recorded sonar image is characterized by high resolution, detail and sharpness. This article is mainly aimed at the demonstration of the impact of side-scan sonar resolution on the imaging quality. The article also presents the importance of acoustic shadow in the process of analyzing sonar data and identifying underwater objects. The real measurements were carried out using two independent survey systems: hull-mounted sonar and towed side-scan sonar. Six different shipwrecks lying in the Baltic Sea were selected as the objects of research. The results presented in the article also constitute evidence of how the sonar technology has changed over time. The survey findings show that by maintaining the appropriate operational conditions and meeting several requirements, it is possible to obtain photographic-quality sonar images, which may be crucial in the process of data interpretation and shipwreck identification.