Advanced Development of a Laser Bathymetry System

The long range goals of this program fall into several areas: 1) Operational, 2) Scientific, 3) Computational. In an operational sense, we seek to demonstrate the feasibility and field deployable ability of a new type of 3-dimensional underwater imaging system which is based on using solid state components instead of mechanical ones. In a scientific sense we seek to understand the propagation of light in the coastal environment in which this imaging system will operate. This will include the deployment of the system in the CoBOP field program and will take advantage of the large amount of auxiliary data that will be collected in this program. In a computational sense, we seek to develop processing algorithms to optimize the quality of information that is being sensed optically. Using the output from the solid state imaging array, we will be able to construct a record of the time varying radiance that is incident upon the camera. Using this information in conjunction with the environmental data that will be collected, we will test the system's capability to simultaneously estimate both the environment and also the reflectivity and topography of the bottom, especially with respect to finding man made items.