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2022

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Deutsche Hydrographische Gesellschaft e.V.

Article, Published Version
Schneider von Deimling, Jens; Lurton, Xavier
Towards better backscatter data products by multibeam
echo sounder systems for improved seafloor mapping
Hydrographische Nachrichten
Verfügbar unter/Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11970/110689
Vorgeschlagene Zitierweise/Suggested citation:
Schneider von Deimling, Jens; Lurton, Xavier (2023): Towards better backscatter data
products by multibeam echo sounder systems for improved seafloor mapping. In:
Hydrographische Nachrichten 123. Rostock: Deutsche Hydrographische Gesellschaft e.V..
S. 57-58. https://doi.org/10.23784/HN121-10.
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Multibeam echo sounder systems (MBES) have be-
come the standard swath-mapping sonar systems 
in hydrographic surveying. However, they not only 
provide accurate bathymetry, but also measure 
the seafloor’s acoustic backscattering strength, 
which is useful for a range of applications includ-
ing seafloor classification and habitat mapping. 
MBES backscatter data are conveniently acquired 
at the same time as MBES bathymetry data, and 
backscatter from MBES is an excellent proxy for 
mapping differences in seafloor properties (e.g. 
substrate and benthic habitat), and is therefore of-
ten used in the production of a variety of seafloor 
thematic maps. Such combined maps integrating 
bathymetry and backscatter information derived 
with modern MBES can partly outperform the-
matic maps derived from side-scan records, espe-
cially when it comes to quantitative analysis using 
algorithms.
To improve the quality and consistency of 
multibeam backscatter data, the Backscatter 
Working Group (BSWG) was formed in 2013 as 
an international group of experts on seafloor 
backscatter data acquired with multibeam so-
nar systems. The group includes researchers in 
acoustics, electrical engineering, geoscience and 
ecology, but also MBES hardware and software 
manufactures, surveyors, hydrographers and 
An article by JENS SCHNEIDER VON DEIMLING and XAVIER LURTON
A three-day international workshop on multibeam sonar backscatter was held (Oc-
tober 25-27, 2022) at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada), coordinated by the 
Backscatter Working Group (BSWG), with 20 delegates attending on-site and 37 del-
egates attending online. The workshop served as a reviver for the BSWG activities 
which aim at supporting improvements in the quality and consistency of multibeam 
backscatter data products. The overall goal is to provide backscatter end-users with 
tools improving their use of backscatter for seafloor and habitat mapping. Several ac-
tions have been decided for the future, encompassing in particular the topics of at-sea 
acquisition, sonar calibration, data processing and collection of reference data.
Towards better backscatter data 
products by multibeam echo sounder
systems for improved seafloor mapping
multibeam echo sounder | backscatter data | BSWG
échosondeur multifaisceaux | données de rétrodiffusion | BSWG
Fächerecholot | Rückstreuinformation | BSWG
Authors
Dr. Jens Schneider von 
Deimling has 20 years experi-
ence with MBES and surveying 
and teaches at the Christian-
Albrechts-Universität (CAU) in 
Kiel, Germany.
Dr. Xavier Lurton is a specialist 
in underwater sound and sonar 
system engineering. Formerly 
with Ifremer (France), he is now 
a consultant.
jens.schneider@ifg.uni-kiel.de
Un colloque international de trois jours sur la mesure de rétrodiffusion par sondeurs multifaisceaux a été 
organisé (25-27 octobre 2022) par le Backscatter Working Group (BSWG) à l'Université Dalhousie (Halifax, 
Canada), avec 20 participants sur place et 37 participants en ligne. Le colloque a donné une nouvelle im-
pulsion aux activités du BSWG qui visent à améliorer la qualité et la cohérence des mesures de rétrodiffu-
sion. Le but général est de fournir aux utilisateurs des outils améliorant leur utilisation de la rétrodiffusion 
pour la cartographie des fonds et des habitats. Plusieurs actions ont été décidées pour le futur, concer-
nant en particulier l’acquisition des données en mer, la calibration des sonars, le traitement des données 
et la constitution d’un catalogue de données de référence.
DOI: 10.23784/HN123-10
Vom 25. bis 27. Oktober 2022 fand an der Dalhousie University, Kanada, ein dreitägiger internationaler 
Workshop statt, koordiniert von der Backscatter Working Group (BSWG), an dem 20 Personen vor Ort 
und bis zu 37 Personen online teilnahmen. Ziel des Workshops war es, die BSWG-Arbeiten hinsichtlich 
Verbesserung von Qualität und Konsistenz von Fächerecholotrückstreuinformation zu reaktivieren. Das 
übergeordnete Ziel hierbei ist es, in Zukunft eine verbesserte Meeresboden- und Habitatkartierung mit 
Hilfe der Rückstreustärke von Fächerecholoten für die Anwender zu erreichen. Für die Zukunft wurden 
mehrere Maßnahmen beschlossen, die insbesondere die Themen Datenaufnahme, Sonarkalibrierung, 
Datenverarbeitung und Sammlung von Referenzdaten umfassen.
Backscatter Working Group
57HN 123 — 11/2022
Backscatter Working Group
Hydrographische Nachrichten58
other end-users. The BSWG was formed in Rome 
in 2013 at the annual GeoHab conference, and to 
this day operates under the umbrella of the Geo-
Hab association (https://geohab.org/backscatter-
working-group). To date, the main output of the 
BSWG was a report published in 2015 providing 
comprehensive guidelines and recommendations 
on the nature, acquisition, processing and use of 
MBES backscatter data (Lurton et al. 2015), which 
is widely recognised today as the main resource 
on the topic of MBES backscatter data for all in-
terested users. Subsequently, the group published 
a special issue on »Seafloor Backscatter Data from 
Swath Mapping Echosounders: from Technologi-
cal Development to Novel Applications« in the 
journal Marine Geophysical Research (Lurton and 
Lamarche 2018), collating research articles on the 
topic of MBES backscatter data measurement, pro-
cessing and applications. 
In order to give a new impetus to the BSWG 
activities, the core members of the BSWG and 
active participants recently convened during a 
workshop held in Halifax, Canada, October 25 to 
27 (Fig.  1). Thanks to the organisation and host-
ing of Craig Brown and the financial support from 
the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) BeCOME project 
(https://www.ofi.ca/research-projects/become), 
the hybrid event took place at Dalhousie Uni-
versity’s Steele Ocean Science Building with 20 
participants on-site and a total of 37 participants 
attending online. The workshop began with pres-
entations from participants to outline the state-of-
the-art and new developments regarding MBES 
backscatter data and its use (https://www.you-
tube.com/channel/UCxqsSrkihByHyVLzgp04-yg/
videos), and which provided background for the 
subsequent discussions. Small break-out group 
discussions then took place where participants dis-
cussed current research gaps and priorities regard-
ing the topic. The groups appeared unanimous in 
identifying a general lack of standards (in calibra-
tion, acquisition and processing) as a main issue 
to tackle. The group also discussed what solutions 
can be put forward to improve the education and 
training of backscatter users with this data type. 
Furthermore, it was agreed that new models and 
technical advances such as multispectral acoustic 
analyses and water-column data information de-
serve more attention and are offering tremendous 
potential for applications in environmental survey-
ing. The workshop concluded with a synthesis of 
the topics discussed and an open discussion on 
updating the groups’ mission, objectives, structure 
and roadmap. A major decision was to re-organise 
the BSWG into thematic sub-groups.  
The workshop was brought together by host 
Craig Brown (Dalhousie University) and co-con-
vened by Alexandre Schimel (Geological Survey of 
Norway) and Marc Roche (Federal Public Service 
Economy, Belgium), who worked together to revi-
talise the BSWG this year. The group actively looks 
for interested and active participants from the 
community of backscatter users. Further meetings 
of the group are expected online and in person 
at the next GeoHab conference to be held in May 
2023. If you are interested in becoming an active 
participant in the future activities of BSWG or sim-
ply remaining informed about those future activi-
ties through the mailing list, contact the BSWG at 
bswg@geohab.org. //
Fig. 1: Opening slide of the three-day workshop presented by the conveners
References
Lurton, Xavier; Geoffroy Lamarche; Craig Brown; Vanessa 
Lucieer; Glen Rice; Alexandre Schimel; Tom Weber (2015): 
Backscatter measurements by seafloor-mapping sonars – 
Guidelines and recommendations. A collective report by 
members of the GeoHab Backscatter Working Group
Lamarche, Geoffroy; Xavier Lurton (2018): Recommendations 
for improved and coherent acquisition and processing of 
backscatter data from seafloor-mapping sonars. Marine 
Geophysical Research. DOI: 10.1007/s11001-017-9315-6


English

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