High Sweep-Rate Sediment Penetrating Sonar for Detection and Classification of Buried Objects for Environmental and Defense Applications

Presently available commercial and military sonar systems can detect, localize, and classify buried underwater mines and hazardous waste containers only under the most benign environmental conditions. Even then, the mapping rates which are realized are too small for the areas which must be surveyed for operationally effective mine countermeasures or cost effective hazardous material remediation. A sonar will be designed and evaluated that exploits emerging broadband source, receiver, synthetic aperature, and image processor technologies to provide a low frequency system that can detect, localize, and classify buried objects with sweep rates an order of magnitude better than presently available. The design will emphasize small aperture and light weight for ease in deployment. A detailed plan will also be developed for concept demonstration eventually leading to prototype development. Anticipated Benefits: This technology could lead to a wide area coverage, covert standoff mine countermeasures capability for buried mines in shallow water regions of Third World Nations. Coverage rates are expected to be an order of magnitude greater than existing sensor systems. Resulting technology would provide a general capability for affordable wide area mapping of hazardous waste containers and ordnance for environmental monitoring and cleanup in coastal area, bays, harbors, and lakes.