• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.165-173
• /
• 2009

The physical properties of a seafloor sediment have been used as a basic data for the ocean survey. Conventional methods such as a coring, a drilling, and a grabbing have been used to explore the physical properties but these methods have a number of shortcomings as it is time consuming, expensive and spatially limited. To overcome these limitations, seafloor sediment classification using acoustic signals has been studied actively. In this paper, we obtained the backscattered signal from the seafloor sediment using an echo sounder which is one kind of seafloor topography equipment. Nakagami probability density function of the backscattered signals from the seafloor sediment was computed and a Nakagami parameter was compared with the physical properties of the seafloor sediment. We have confirmed that Nakagami parameter, m is correlated with the physical properties of a seafloor sediment. This study will be utilized as a basic data of the seafloor sediment research.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.177-187
• /
• 2016

To evaluate the tractive performance of tracked trencher on seafloor surface, a new shear stress-displacement empirical model was proposed for saturated soft-plastic soil (SSP model). To validate the SSP model, a test platform, where track segment shear test can be performed in seafloor soil simulacrum (bentonite water mixture), was built. Series shear tests were carried out. Test results indicate that the SSP model can describe the mechanical behavior of track segment with good approximation in seafloor soil simulacrum. Through analyzing the main external forces applied to seafloor tracked trencher during the uniform linear trenching process, a drawbar pull prediction model was deduced with the SSP model. A tracked walking mechanism of the seafloor tracked trencher prototype was built, and verification tests were carried out. Test results indicate that this prediction model was feasible and effective; moreover, from another side, this conclusion also proved that the SSP model was effective.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2007

The MH21 Research Consortium has conducted a high-resolution 3D seismic survey and a seafloor geochemical survey, to explore methane hydrate reservoirs in the eastern Nankai Trough, offshore Japan. Excellent geological information about shallow formations was obtained from the high-resolution 3D seismic survey, which was designed to image the shallow formations where methane hydrates exist. The information is useful in constructing a geological and geochemical model, and especially to understand the complex geology of seafloor, including geochemical manifestations and the structure of migration conduits for methane gas or methane-bearing fluid. By comparing methane seep sites observed by submersibles with seismic sections, some significant relationships between methane hydrate reservoirs, free gas accumulations below the seafloor, and seafloor manifestations are recognised. Bathymetric charts and seafloor reflection amplitude maps, constructed from seismic reflections from the seafloor, are also useful in understanding the relationships over a vast area. A new geochemical seafloor survey targeted by these maps is required. The relationships between methane hydrate reservoirs and seafloor manifestations are becoming clearer from interpretation of high-resolution 3D seismic data. The MH21 Research Consortium will continue to conduct seafloor geochemical surveys based on the geological and geochemical model constructed from high-resolution 3D seismic data analysis. In this paper, we introduce a basis for exploration of methane hydrate reservoirs in Japan by fusion of 3D seismic exploration and seafloor geochemical surveys.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.163-167
• /
• 2010

Square reefs of 2 groups installed at 1984 on mud and sandy-mud seafloor were compared with settlment conditions of those at Goheong coastal in middle-south sea of Korea at 2007. Reefs installed on mud and sandy-mud seafloor were settled to 1.9m and 2.4m, respectively. It suggest that a function of square reefs group installed on soft seafloor decrease over 50% after 20 years.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2017

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is one of the most efficient technologies to obtain the topographic and bathymetric map of coastal zones, superior to other technologies, such as sound navigation and ranging (SONAR) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). However, the measurement results using LiDAR are vulnerable to environmental factors. To achieve a correspondence between the acquired LiDAR data and reality, error sources must be considered, such as the water surface slope, water turbidity, and seafloor slope. Based on the knowledge of those factors' effects, error corrections can be applied. We concentrated on the effect of the seafloor slope on LiDAR waveforms while restricting other error sources. A simulation regarding in-water beam scattering was conducted, followed by an investigation of the correlation between the seafloor slope and peak timing of return waveforms. As a result, an equation was derived to correct the depth error caused by the seafloor slope.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2010.09a
• /
• pp.1366-1369
• /
• 2010

Along with the increasing need of sea development, the hydraulic stability of seabed structure on a soft seafloor ground is becoming an issue in the course of seaside development recently. However, the movement and hydraulic resistance or hydraulic stability of seafloor ground are mutually coupled with various phenomena, and there has been no clear proof for the issue, which makes it difficult to forecast. Furthermore, most researches are focused on hydraulic variables and the conditions of marine external force, while there have been few researches into the assessment in consideration of the type of a seafloor ground and the geotechnical characteristics. In addition, according to the periodic change of the flow direction, possible changes in hydraulic resistance performance of the seafloor deserves all the recognition. But there is no way to measure the hydraulic unstability of the sea ground due to tidal flow quantitatively. In this study, conventional hydraulic resistance measurement apparatus was improved to consider direction change of the current flow. Various artificial clayey soil specimens were made from Kaolinite and Jumunjin standard sand and hydraulic resistance tests were performed by changing the flow direction to validate the effect of the direction change on the scour of the seafloor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.497-506
• /
• 2015

Gravity variations due to the 2011 Tohoku (M9.0) earthquake, which occurred at the plate boundaries near the northeastern coast of Japan, were estimated through the GRACE spherical harmonic (Stokes) coefficients derived from the CSR. About -5 μGal gravity variation by the GRACE data was found in the back-arc basin area with respect to a reference gravity model. The mean gravity variations in the back-arc basin area and the Japan Trench area were -4.4 and -3.2 μGal in order. The small negative gravity variations around the Japan Trench area can be interpreted by both crustal dilatation and the seafloor topography change in comparison with the large negative gravity variations in the back-arc basin area by co-seismic crustal dilatation of the landward plate. From the results of the gravity variations, vertical displacements generated from relatively short wavelength caused by the earthquake were estimated by use of multi-beam bathymetric measurements obtained from JAMSTEC. The maximum seafloor topography changes of about ±50 m were found at west side of the Japan Trench axis by the earthquake. The seafloor topography change by the megathrust earthquake can be considered as the results of the landslide of the seafloor throughout the landward side.

• Spatial Information Research
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.19-28
• /
• 2011

Three dimensional modeling for seafloor topography is essential to monitoring displacements in underwater structures as well as all sorts of disasters along the shore. MBES is a system that is capable of high-density water depth measurement for seafloor topography and is in broad uses for gathering 3D data and detecting displacements. MBES data, however, contain random errors that take place in the equipment offset and surveying process and require systematic researches on the correction of wrong depth measurements. Thus this study set out to propose a post-processing technique to eliminate an array of random errors taking place after equipment offset correction and basic noise correction in the MBES system and analyze its applicability to seafloor topography modeling by applying it to the subject area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.133-141
• /
• 2023

Accurate measurement of seafloor topography plays a crucial role in developing marine industries such as maritime safety, resource exploration, environmental protection, and coastal management. The seafloor topography is constructed using side scan sonar (SSS) and single beam echosounder (SBES) or multibeam echosounder (MBES), which transmit and receive ultrasound waves through a device attached to a marine survey vessel. However, the use of a sonar system is affected by noise pollution areas, and the single beam has a limited scope of application. At the same time, the multibeam is mainly applicable for depth observation. For these reasons, it is difficult to determine the boundaries and areas of seafloor topography. Therefore, this study proposes a method to improve the backscatter data of multibeam echosounder, which has a relationship with the seafloor quality, by using digital image processing to classify the shape of the underwater surface.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.421-427
• /
• 2004

In order to exploit underwater resources successfully, the first step would be a marine environmental research and exploration in the seafloor. Generally one sets up a long-term underwater experimental unit in the seafloor and retrieves the unit later after a certain period time. Essential to these applications is the reliable teleoperation and telemetering of the unit. In this paper we presents a robust underwater sound recognition algorithm by which we can identify the sound signal without the influence of disturbances due to underwater environmental changes. The proposed method provides a means suitable for the acoustic releaser which requires low power dissipation and long-time underwater operation. We demonstrate its ability of securing stability and fast sound recognition through simulation methods.