3D underwater imaging using vector acoustics

Vector acoustic data will allow accurate 3-D imaging of an underwater environment while corresponding pressure hydrophone data using the same acquisition geometry can only produce 2-D images. Newly developed sensors make vector acoustic based surveys practical. This concept is demonstrated with data from an acoustic water tank. Using a simple but novel imaging algorithm, all of the main structures in the water tank were correctly located. This imaging algorithm uses none of the existing imaging or inversion methods common in exploration seismology.