Quantification of a multibeam sonar for fisheries assessment applications.

The acoustic theory is developed for a multibeam fisheries-type sonar employing a circular arc of transducer elements. Specifically, numerical relations for transmit and receive beam patterns are derived and methodologies set forth for the derivation of appropriately scaled acoustic target strength and acoustic volume backscattering strength from an ideally performing multibeam device. Predicted and measured beam characteristics of a realizable multibeam sonar, a Kongsberg Simrad-Mesotech SM 2000, are compared. Practical techniques for the extraction of calibrated acoustic volume backscattering strength from real systems are advanced.

[1]  C. de Moustier,et al.  On optimal shading for arrays of irregularly-spaced or noncoplanar elements , 2000 .

[2]  K. G. Foote,et al.  A technique for calibration of monostatic echosounder systems , 1996 .

[3]  Ole Arve Misund,et al.  Tracking herring schools with a high resolution sonar. Variations in horizontal area and relative echo intensity , 1998 .

[4]  Ole Arve Misund,et al.  Mapping the shape, size, and density of fish schools by echo integration and a high-resolution sonar , 1995 .

[5]  Sam McClatchie,et al.  Consequence of swimbladder model choice and fish orientation to target strength of three New Zealand fish species , 1996 .

[6]  J. Faran.  Sound Scattering by Solid Cylinders and Spheres , 1951 .

[7]  Gary D. Melvin,et al.  Extraction and comparison of acoustic backscatter from a calibrated multi- and single-beam sonar , 2003 .

[8]  Pierre Fréon,et al.  Analysis of vessel influence on spatial behaviour of fish schools using a multi-beam sonar and consequences for biomass estimates by echo-sounder , 1996 .

[9]  Larry A. Mayer,et al.  3D visualization for pelagic fisheries research and assessment , 2002 .

[10]  R. Francois,et al.  Sound absorption based on ocean measurements. Part II: Boric acid contribution and equation for total absorption , 1982 .

[11]  Kenneth G. Foote,et al.  Rather‐high‐frequency sound scattering by swimbladdered fish , 1985 .

[12]  S.M. Kay,et al.  Digital signal processing for sonar , 1981, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[13]  R. Francois,et al.  Sound absorption based on ocean measurements: Part I: Pure water and magnesium sulfate contributions , 1982 .

[14]  John K. Horne,et al.  Multi-frequency estimates of fish abundance: constraints of rather high frequencies , 1999 .

[15]  R. H. Vogt,et al.  Acoustic reflection from elastic spheres. I. Steady‐state signals , 1974 .

[16]  C. D. de Moustier,et al.  Multibeam volume acoustic backscatter imagery and reverberation measurements in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. , 2002, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

[17]  Ole Arve Misund,et al.  Swimming behaviour of fish schools in the North Sea during acoustic surveying and pelagic trawl sampling , 1992 .