Acoustic seafloor discrimination with echo shape parameters: A comparison with the ground truth

Features extracted from echosounder bottom returns are compared with the ground truth in a North Sea survey area. The ground truth consists of 50 grab samples for which the grain size distribution, and the gravel and shell contents were determined. Echo envelopes are analysed for two single-beam echosounders, operated at frequencies of 66 and 150 kHz. It is shown that a set of six energetic, statistical, spectral and fractal parameters carries useful information that can be exploited for seafloor characterization and classification purposes. A quantitative comparison of the individual features with the grab sample mean grain size reveals significant correlations. The echo features are also subjected to a principal component analysis in tandem with a cluster analysis. Four sediment classes with different geo-acoustic properties are examined and compared with the grab samples and existing geological information. A subtle difference between the two sounder frequencies is observed in the rendition of an isolated trench with a soft infill of clay and Holocene channel deposits. The acoustic transition from the valley to neighbouring sand and gravel fields occurs more rapidly at the lower of the two examined frequencies. A direct comparison of the acoustic sediment classes with the ground truth reveals that the main sediment types mud, sand, and gravel are more clearly separated at 150 kHz. The acoustic bottom classification scheme also appears particularly sensitive to the presence of gravel at this sounder frequency.