Sidescan sonar meets airborne and satellite remote sensing: challenges of a multi-device seafloor classification in extreme shallow water intertidal environments

• DOI: 10.1007/s00367-020-00639-7
• Publication Date: 2020-02-12T07:02:26Z
• Authors: R. M. Capperucci; A. Kubicki; P. Holler; A. Bartholomä
• Keywords: remote sensing; 13. Climate action; Geology ; Original; seafloor classification; sidescan sonar; 14. Life underwater; ddc:526; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Abstract Tidal ecosystems like the Wadden Sea are particularly valuable for their ecological and economic importance. Here, natural dynamics of abiotic biotic processes is threatened by human pressure, great efforts made on mapping monitoring programs. Remote sensing techniques (e.g., satellite airborne sources) commonly used land intertidal areas, whereas hydroacoustic devices deployed in subtidal zones. The overlap hydroacoustics (sidescan sonar) Lidar data such sensitive transitional zone (inter- to subtidal) rather uncommon. In order test limitations both extremely shallow waters (0.7 m min, water depth) find most efficient methods spatial classification a portion backbarrier tidal flat Norderney was investigated. bathymetric were extracting high resolution morphological information. Sidescan sonar mosaics collected two following years under contrasting weather conditions. An expert based sidescan backscatter intensity, seafloor texture, morphology, surface sediment subdivided research area into 10 classes. outcomes compared with an existing RapidEye-based classification. tested showed advantages limitations, which discussed statistical analyses. Satellite approaches suitable biogenic features shellfish beds) over large superior detail detection discrimination morpho-sedimentary regions. As outlook, it postulated perform ground-truthed small testing use obtained training satellite-based algorithms.