• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2016

We characterize the spatial distribution of Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts covering the summit and slopes of a seamount in the western Pacific, using acoustic backscatter from multibeam echo sounders (MBES) and seafloor video observation. Based on multibeam bathymetric data, we identify that ~70% of the summit area of this flattopped seamount has slope gradients less than $5^{\circ}$. The histogram of the backscatter intensity data shows a bi-modal distribution, indicating significant variations in seabed hardness. On the one hand, visual inspection of the seafloor using deep-sea camera data exhibits that the steep slope areas with high backscatter are mainly covered by manganese crusts. On the other hand, the visual analyses for the summit reveal that the summit areas with relatively low backscatter are covered by sediments. The other summit areas, however, exhibit high acoustic reflectivity due to coexistence of manganese crusts and sediments. Comparison between seafloor video images and acoustic backscatter intensity suggests that the central summit has relatively flat topography and low backscatter intensity resulting from unconsolidated sediments. In addition, the rim of the summit and the slopes are of high acoustic reflectivity because of manganese crusts and/or bedrock outcrops with little sediments. Therefore, we find a strong correlation between the acoustic backscatter data acquired from sea-surface multibeam survey and the spatial distribution of sediments and manganese crusts. We propose that analyzing acoustic backscatter can be one of practical methods to select optimal minable areas of the ferromanganese crusts from seamounts for future mining.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.379-390
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• 2015

Multibeam backscatter strength is dependent not only on seafloor sediment facies but also on changed incidence angle due to the actual bottom slope. Therefore, the correction for actual bottom slope should be considered before the analysis of backscatter strength. This paper demonstrates the backscatter correction technique for the actual incidence angle and ensonified area. The target area is a part of the eastern Yellow Sea with water depths of 46~55 m. The area is located between the sand ridges and covered by large dunes with various bottom slopes. The dunes usually have the gentle slopes of about $1{\sim}3^{\circ}$, but show some steep slopes of $5{\sim}15^{\circ}$ on the crest. The backscatter strength values on the crest range from -34 to -23 dB, assuming that the bottom is flat. However, this study shows that the backscatter strength range was somewhat reduced (-32~-25 dB) after correction for actual bottom slope. In addition, the backscatter imagery was significantly improved; high and low backscatter strength values on the crest due to the actual bottom slope were normalized. The results demonstrate that the correction technique in this study is an effective tool for processing backscatter strength.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2017

This paper presents the operations of a multi-beam echo sounder (MBES) installed on the deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Hemire. Hemire explored hydrothermal vents in the Forecast volcano located near the Mariana Trench in March of in 2006. During these explorations, we acquired profiling points on the routes of the vehicle using the MBES. Information on the position, depth, and attitude of the ROV are essential to obtain higher accuracy for the profiling quality. However, the MBES installed on Hemire does not have its own position and depth sensors. Although it has attitude sensors for roll, pitch, and heading, the specifications of these sensors were not clear. Therefore, we had to merge the high-performance sensor data for the motion and position obtained from Hemire into the profiling data of the MBES. Then, we could properly convert the profiling points with respect to the Earth-fixed coordinates. This paper describes the integration of the MBES with Hemire, as well as the coordinate conversion between them. Bathymetric maps near the summit of the Forecast volcano were successfully collected through these processes. A comparison between the bathymetric maps from the MBES and those from the Onnuri Research Vessel, the mother ship of the ROV Hemire for these explorations, is also presented.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2010

In this paper, we have constructed high-resolution topographical map of macro-tidal Malipo beach through integration of terrestrial LiDAR measurement and MBES survey data at inter-tidal zone. To acquire the enough information of inter-tidal zone, we have done terrestrial LiDAR measurement mounted on the roof of vehicle with DGPS through go-stop-scan method at the ebb tide and MBES depth surveying with tide gauge and eye staff measurement for tide correction and MSL calculation at the high tide all together. To integrate two kinds of data, we have unified the vertical coordination standard to Incheon MSL. The mean error of overlapped inter-tidal zone is about 2~6 cm. To verify the accuracy of terrestrial LiDAR, RTK-DGPS measurement have done simultaneously and the difference of Z value RMSE is about 4~7 cm. The resolution of Malipo topographical map is 50 cm and it has constructed to DEM (Digital Elevation Model) based on GIS. Now it has used as an input topography information for the storm-surge inundation prediction models. Also it will be possible to use monitoring of beach process through the long-term periodic measurement and GIS-based 3D spatial analysis calculating the erosion and deposition considering with the artificial beach transition and coastal environmental parameters.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.65-69
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• 2008

This study is aimed to develope a remote control ship for acquisition of various underwater information. Remote control ship equipped with GPS, echosounder, sidescan sonar, subbottom profiler. Remote control ship is an automatic system for acquisition of inland water and coast information. For the development of remote control ship, underwater information acquisition of reservoir, dam, polluted area is expected. Also, multibeam echosounder, image sensor, water analysis sensor, etc. could be equipped in one ship. So robot-ship will be applied for the most part of industry managing water resources and preventing the flood by making bed topographic map and estimating water volumes.

• 한국지구과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.52-52
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• 2010

동해 한국대지 남부(south Korea Plateau)에서 2010년 2월에 한국해양연구원의 온누리호를 이용하여 해저지형 및 자생광물 탐사가 실시되었다. 다중빔 음향측심기를 이용한 해저지형 조사는 2-3 km 탐사측선 간격으로 약 400 L-km 정도가 실시되었다. 조사구역 A($37^{\circ}$ 16'-18'N, $130^{\circ}$ 02'-16'E)는 890-1,900 m의 수심범위와 남쪽으로 갈수록 수심이 깊어져 울릉분지(Ulleung Basin)와 연결된다. 크고 작은 소규모의 구릉이 사면을 따라 다수 분포하고 있다. 조사구역 B($37^{\circ}$ 26'-40'N, $130^{\circ}$ 23'-34'E)의 정상부는 900-1,000 m로 비교적 평평하게 나타났고, 남동방향으로는 2,200 m까지 급격하게 수심이 증가하는 사면으로 이루어져 있다. 한국대지내 노출 암반지역은 남동쪽 사면의 일부 지역에 분포하고 있다. 자생광물 탐사는 일차적으로 천부지층 탄성파탐사를 수행하여 시료채취 가능 여부를 현장에서 확인한 후에, A 및 B구역내 11개 지점에서 드렛지를 이용하여 암석시료를 채취하였다. 채취된 암석은 주로 현무암이며, 많은 양의 화산기원 부석(pumice) 및 화산재(box core 자료)도 확인되었다. 또한, 인광석으로 추정되는 암석과, 망간단괴(manganese nodules)와 망간각(manganese crust)의 일부 시료도 채취하는데 성과가 있었다.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.444-454
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• 2015

Measurements of bottom backscattering strengths in a frequency range of 6-14 kHz were made on the shallow water off the southern Gyeonggi Bay in Yellow Sea in May 2013, as part of the KIOST-HYU joint acoustics experiment. Geological surveys for the experimental area were performed using multi-beam echo sounder, sparker system, and grab sampling to investigate the bottom topography, sub-bottom profile and composition of surficial sediment, respectively. In this paper, the backscattering strengths as a function of grazing angle (in range of $28^{\circ}{\sim}69^{\circ}$) were estimated and compared to the predictions obtained by Lambert's law and APL-UW scattering model. Finally, the effects of geoacoustic parameters corresponding to the experimental area on the backscattering strengths are discussed.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.116-122
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• 2016

This paper proposes a practical object shape reconstruction method using an underwater imaging sonar. In order to reconstruct the object shape, three methods are utilized. Firstly, the vertical field of view of imaging sonar is modified to narrow angle to reduce an uncertainty of estimated 3D position. The wide vertical field of view makes the incorrect estimation result about the 3D position of the underwater object. Secondly, simple noise filtering and range detection methods are designed to extract a distance from the sonar image. Lastly, a low pass filter is adopted to estimate a probability of voxel occupancy. To demonstrate the proposed methods, object shape reconstruction for three sample objects was performed in a basin and results are explained.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 2005

Dmitri Donskoi, the Russian cruiser launched in 1883, is known to have sunk near Ulleung Island (East Sea, Korea) on May 29, 1905, while it was participating in the Russo-Japanese War. In order to find this ship, information about its possible location was obtained from Russian and Japanese maritime historical records. The supposed location of the ship was identified, and we conducted a five-year geophysical survey from 1999 to 2003. A reconnaissance three-dimensional topographic survey of the sea floor was carried out using multi-beam echo sounder, marine magnetometer, and side-scan sonar. An anomalous body identified through the initial reconnaissance survey was identified by a detailed survey using a remotely operated vehicle, deep-sea camera, and the mini-submarine Pathfinder. Interpretation of the acquired data showed that the ship is hanging on the side of a channel, at the bottom of the sea 400 m below sea level. The location is about 2 km from Port Jeodong, Uleung Island. We discovered 152 mm naval guns and other war materiel still attached to the hull of the ship. In addition, the remnants of the steering gear and other machinery that were burnt during the final action were found near the hull. Strong magnetic fields, resulting from the presence of volcanic rocks in the survey area, affected the resolution of the magnetic data gathered; as a result, we could not locate the ship reliably using the magnetic method. Severe sea floor topography in the gully around the hull gave rise to diffuse reflections in the side-scan sonar data, and this prevented us from identifying the anomalous body with the side-scan sonar technique. However, the sea-floor image obtained from the multi-bean echo sounder was very useful in verifying the location of the ship.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.174-193
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• 2023

Korea is surrounded by the sea and has rivers connecting to it throughout the inland areas, which has been a geographical characteristic since ancient times. As a result, there have been exchanges and conflicts with various countries through the sea, and rivers have facilitated the transportation of ships carrying grain, goods paid for by taxes, and passengers. Since the past, the sea and rivers have had a significant impact on the lives of Koreans. Consequently, it is expected that there are many cultural heritages submerged in the sea and rivers, and continuous efforts are being made to discover and preserve them. Underwater cultural heritage is difficult to discover due to its location in the sea or rivers, making direct visual observation and exploration challenging. To overcome these limitations, various geophysical survey techniques are employed. Geophysical survey methods utilize the physical properties of elastic waves, including their reflection and refraction, to conduct surveys such as bathymetry, underwater topography and strata. These techniques detect the physical characteristics of underwater objects and seafloor formation in the underwater environment, analyze differences, and identify underwater cultural heritage located on or buried in the seabed. Bathymetry uses an echo sounder, and an underwater topography survey uses a side-scan sonar to find underwater artifacts lying on or partially exposed to the seabed, and a marine shallow strata survey uses a sub-bottom profiler to find underwater heritages buried in the seabed. However, the underwater cultural heritage discovered in domestic waters thus far has largely been accidental findings by fishermen, divers, or octopus hunters. This study aims to analyze and summarize the latest research trends in equipment used for underwater cultural heritage exploration, including bathymetric surveys, underwater topography surveys and strata surveys. The goal is to contribute to research on underwater cultural heritage investigation in the domestic context.