Estimating bottom properties with a Vector Sensor Array during MakaiEx
2005
P. Santos, P. Felisberto and S.M. Jesus
(1) Institute for Systems and Robotics,
+351 289 800 949, pjsantos@ualg.pt
Abstract
Nowadays, vector sensors which measure both
acoustic pressure and particle velocity begin to be available in underwater
acoustic systems, normally configured as vector sensor arrays (VSA). Such a
system was used during the Makai 2005 experiment, off
The spatial filtering capabilities of the VSA
can be used, with advantage over traditional pressure only hydrophone arrays,
to estimate acoustic field parameters such as ray arrival time and angle, which
could give rise to simplest and/or more reliable methods in bottom estimation.
An additional motivation for this work was to test the possibility of using
high frequency probe signals (say above 2 kHz) as a potential for reducing size
and cost of actual sub bottom profilers and current geo acoustic inversion
methods.
This work studies the bottom related structure
of the VSA acquired signals, regarding the emitted signal waveform, frequency
band and source-receiver geometry in order to estimate the bottom properties, specially bottom reflection coefficient characteristics. The
agreement between the observed and modelled acoustic data is addressed. Preliminary
results on the bottom reflection estimation will be also discussed.