Abstract
The ANKOU is a newly developed, full ocean depth, long-range vector side scan sonar system. The system provides real time vector side scan sonar data to produce backscattering images and bathymetric maps for seafloor swaths up to 10 km on either side of ship's centerline. Complete geometric corrections are made using towfish attitude and cross-track distortions known as foreshortening and layover caused by violation of the flat bottom assumption. Foreshortening and layover refers to pixels which have been placed at an incorrect cross-track distance. Our correction of this topographic distortion is accomplished by interpolating a bathymetric profile and ANKOU phase data. We applied these processing techniques to ANKOU backscattering data obtained from off Boso Peninsula, and confirmed their efficiency and utility for making geometric corrections of side scan sonar data.
