Seabed topographic classification and mapping

The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), in response to the Chief of Naval Operations' and Commandant of the Marine Corps' white papers entitled "...From the Sea" and "Forward...From the Sea", has focused its effort on providing the fleet with environmental data gleaned from the littoral ocean regions. These data support the needs of expeditionary forces engaged in joint operations to project power from the sea in the world's littoral areas. Special products to support fleet and amphibious forces have been developed and are being provided by NAVOCEANO. NAVOCEANO conducts multidisciplinary military oceanographic surveys. The office collects oceanographic, hydrographic, chemical, navigation, and acoustic data. Seabed topographic classification, composition, and load-bearing strength are essential to amphibious operations, mine burial/detection, special operations, etc. Until recently the mapping of littoral oceans bottom was laborious and sketchy. Bottom grabs, photography, divers' observations, or sidescan sonar imagery analysis were the sources of this information. These data-gathering approaches were either very accurate but labor intensive or low quality. Both approaches produced minimum coverage. Gathering dependable environmental data in the littoral seas is time dependent. The littoral regions are dynamically complex, ever-changing, NAVOCEANO's ability to respond to Naval Expeditionary Force operations in a timely manner requires a new approach to the science of seabed classification. NAVOCEANO is utilizing a data-collection and processing device to meet these requirements: RoxAnn/sup TM/, a hydro-acoustic system marketed from Scotland by Marine Micro Systems Ltd. This system has been operated from full-size oceanographic survey vessels and small hydrographic survey launches (HSLs). Once calibrated and ground-truthed, seabed topographic classification can be accomplished at normal survey speeds and without interfering with normal multidisciplinary environmental data-gathering operations. Seabed classification has entered a new era using digital technology that offers an opportunity for larger scale mapping and efficiency to respond to special tactical fleet operations.