Simulation and optimization-based method of environmental parameter distribution from airborne bathymetric LIDAR data

Thomas Lang; Robert Guild; Christopher R. Valenta; Domenic Carr; Jason Zutty

doi:10.1117/12.2585710

12 April 2021 Simulation and optimization-based method of environmental parameter distribution from airborne bathymetric LIDAR data

Thomas Lang, Robert Guild, Christopher R. Valenta, Domenic Carr, Jason Zutty

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11744, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XXVI; 1174406 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2585710
Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 2021, Online Only

Abstract

A bathymetric LiDAR system’s emitted laser pulse is affected by many system specific and environmental variables, including sea water scattering and absorption, seafloor reflectance and rugosity, in-air attenuation, electronic bandwidth and noise, among others. These factors influence the captured, digitized waveform which can be used to estimate seafloor depth and sea water properties. Understanding how these parameters influence bathymetric LiDAR waveforms and extracting estimates of these parameters is important in developing more accurate analysis techniques as well as creating data products that are associated with georectified coordinates. However, estimating more than ten parameters from a collection of waveforms that may or may not have correlated parameters is challenging. This paper details a post-processing technique used to estimate bathymetric environmental parameters through robust simulation of airborne LiDAR data that models laser beam propagation in a specific bathymetric environment. To create an initial waveform, the simulator is seeded with known parameters and with reasonable estimates for unknown parameters. Then, using optimization algorithms, the unknown parameters are iteratively adjusted, creating a waveform that minimizes error between it and an associated truth waveform. By estimating these unknown values for many waveforms within a geographic area, the distributions of the environmental factors can be characterized for future analysis.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Thomas Lang, Robert Guild, Christopher R. Valenta, Domenic Carr, and Jason Zutty "Simulation and optimization-based method of environmental parameter distribution from airborne bathymetric LIDAR data", Proc. SPIE 11744, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XXVI, 1174406 (12 April 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2585710

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available