Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)

Seabed classification involves the analysis of acoustic remote sensing data to characterize the physical,x000D
geological, and biological properties of ocean, lake, and river beds for production of thematic maps. Acousticx000D
remote sensing can be done using almost any sonar, but multibeam echo sounders (MBES) have become ax000D
favored and widely used technique in recent years for seafloor reconnaissance surveys in a wide range of oceanx000D
sector industries. MBES record information relating to seafloor bathymetry (depth), and acoustic seafloorx000D
backscatter strength (which can be used to infer seafloor geological and habitat characteristics). Automatedx000D
software methods offer an objective and robust classification approach compared to conventional expert "byx000D
eye" interpretation of such data sets to produce interpreted maps of seafloor features (e.g. maps of seafloorx000D
sediments or seafloor habitats). Even though software classification methods have progressed over the pastx000D
decade, there is still significant scope for innovation and improvement of software tools for semi-automatedx000D
classification of the MBES data sets. In this collaborative project, NSCC will partner with Maritime Wayx000D
Scientific Ltd. to explore new and innovative segmentation routines for improved seafloor classification andx000D
characterization of MBES data sets. These routines will be tested on MBES data sets held by NSCC tox000D
validation performance compared against in situ ground-truthing of the seafloor geological and habitatx000D
characteristics. The anticipated scientific and technical advances offer direct value to the private sector partnerx000D
by providing classification/segmentation routines for improvement of their seafloor classification softwarex000D
products. This will meet market demand for a wide cross section of their clients using the software for MBESx000D
backscatter classification, with follow-on benefits for improved thematic map production across a wide crossx000D
section of ocean sector industries (i.e. benefits afforded by improved seafloor map production for applicationx000D
for oil and gas exploration, seafloor cable routing, fisheries and conservation mapping).