Development of method in precise multibeam acoustic bathymetry

Abstract

The sound ray tracing method can achieve higher accuracy in determining depths and plan positions with multibeam echo sounding system. In data processing, actual sound speed profile must be used in the method. However, the method is too complicated. In order to overcome the shortcoming, this paper presents a new method, the position correction method. Two situations are considered in the new method, namely, change of sound velocity keeps constant gradient in whole water column (includingN layers) or in different water layer.