An Enhanced Angular Range Analysis workflow with backscatter and magnetometry for wider industrial impact and uptake of INFOMAR data

This project aims to apply an new, enhanced Angular Range Analysis (eARA) work to 6 broad areas of INFOMAR data: deep (+700 m); intermediate (400 m); shallow (200 m) and 3 areas of interest to ORE developers in the North Celtic Sea (ranging from 100 to 20 m). The method will be applied to the raw acoustic data using an industry standard ARA methodology (QPS) calibrated by available INFOMAR sediment samples. Processing will reduce the ARA-typical artefacts and statistically map sediment composition, density and mean grain size. Associated magnetometer data will be diurnally-corrected, smoothed and depth-normalised. These data will be incorporated to the output geodatabase.  Accuracy will be calculated using previously acquired sediment samples and a new workflow document created for the derivation of these data layers that can be adopted by governmental programs and increase industrial uptake of governmental data.

Aim 1: To develop a more industry-aligned and robust sediment classification workflow that elucidates the control of differing multibeam sonars and acquisition parameters specific to INFOMARs existing database and;

Aim 2: To determine the accuracy and feasibility of upscaling such a method across the INFOMAR database (~20 years’ worth of data).

Funder: Geological Survey, Ireland (Department of Communication, Climate Action and the Environment)

Project Team

• Ms Cara Brennan (Postgraduate Researcher)
• Dr Aaron Lim (PI)
• Dr Ger Summers (Co-Supervisor)
• Dr Larissa Cruz de Oliveira Macedo (Co-Supervisor)
• Mr David Hardy (Advisory board)