Posidonia Oceanica is a seagrass species endemic in the Mediterranean, where it plays an important role in the ecosystem. Its presence indicates low water pollution levels.
Its acoustic properties allow it to be distinguished from backscatter response of the seabed and make it possible to map it with side scan sonar systems.
Kongsberg Geoacoustics’ GeoSwath Plus system are widely used in habitat mapping projects, utilising its geo-referenced side scan information, which is co-registered with wide swath high resolution bathymetry data. In recent field studies in Villajoyosa, Spain, a method was developed to automate the interpretation of the side scan records by applying aided texture classification, easily detecting areas with Posidonia growth on sandy seafloor. GeoTexture software was applied, which combines side scan and bathymetry information for side scan normalisation and reliable texture mapping.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , January 13, 2012; Image: Kongsberg