Underwater acoustic imaging

Underwater acoustic imaging systems are useful in providing underwater observation and inspection capabilities whenever optical systems cannot. Underwater acoustic imaging is a part of the larger field of acoustic imaging, and as such, has its own peculiarities and attributes as compared with the rest of the acoustic imaging field. In this report, the general characteristics of underwater acoustic imaging are presented. Three basic techniques of acoustic imaging that are appropriate for underwater imaging are discussed (focused, beamformed, and holographic) and examples of each of them are described. Then the limitations and promise for the future in underwater acoustic imaging are explored.