A Multi-Observation Least-Squares Inversion for GNSS-Acoustic Seafloor Positioning
Monitoring deformation on the seafloor is a major challenge for modern geodesy and a key to better understanding tectonic processes and assess related hazards. The extension of the geodetic networks offshore can be achieved by combining satellite positioning (GNSS) of a surface platform with acousti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/3/448 |
| _version_ | 1818958996543897600 |
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| author | Pierre Sakic Valérie Ballu Jean-Yves Royer |
| author_facet | Pierre Sakic Valérie Ballu Jean-Yves Royer |
| author_sort | Pierre Sakic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Monitoring deformation on the seafloor is a major challenge for modern geodesy and a key to better understanding tectonic processes and assess related hazards. The extension of the geodetic networks offshore can be achieved by combining satellite positioning (GNSS) of a surface platform with acoustic ranging to seafloor transponders. This approach is called GNSS-Acoustic (GNSS-A). The scope of this work is to provide a tool to identify and quantify key points in the error budget of such experiment. For this purpose, we present a least-squares inversion method to determine the absolute position of a seafloor transponder array. Assuming the surface platform is accurately positioned by GNSS, the main observables are the two-way travel time in water between the transponders on the seafloor and the surface platform acoustic head. To better constrain transponder positions, we also consider the baseline lengths and the relative depth-differences between different pairs of them. We illustrate the usefulness of our forward modeling approach and least-square inversion by simulating different experimental protocols (i.e., platform trajectories, with or without information on the distance and depth between transponders). We find that the overall accuracy of a GNSS-A experiment is significantly improved with additional information about the relative depths of the instruments. Baseline lengths also improve the accuracy, but only when combined with depth differences. The codes in <i>Python3</i> used in this article are freely available online. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T11:34:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e79a778d634404c86d4a155a57dd083 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T11:34:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e79a778d634404c86d4a155a57dd0832022-12-21T19:42:09ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922020-02-0112344810.3390/rs12030448rs12030448A Multi-Observation Least-Squares Inversion for GNSS-Acoustic Seafloor PositioningPierre Sakic0Valérie Ballu1Jean-Yves Royer2CNRS & University of La Rochelle, Littoral Environnement et Sociétés, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, FranceCNRS & University of La Rochelle, Littoral Environnement et Sociétés, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, FranceCNRS & University of Brest, Laboratoire Géosciences Océan, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Rue Dumont d’Urville, 29280 Plouzané, FranceMonitoring deformation on the seafloor is a major challenge for modern geodesy and a key to better understanding tectonic processes and assess related hazards. The extension of the geodetic networks offshore can be achieved by combining satellite positioning (GNSS) of a surface platform with acoustic ranging to seafloor transponders. This approach is called GNSS-Acoustic (GNSS-A). The scope of this work is to provide a tool to identify and quantify key points in the error budget of such experiment. For this purpose, we present a least-squares inversion method to determine the absolute position of a seafloor transponder array. Assuming the surface platform is accurately positioned by GNSS, the main observables are the two-way travel time in water between the transponders on the seafloor and the surface platform acoustic head. To better constrain transponder positions, we also consider the baseline lengths and the relative depth-differences between different pairs of them. We illustrate the usefulness of our forward modeling approach and least-square inversion by simulating different experimental protocols (i.e., platform trajectories, with or without information on the distance and depth between transponders). We find that the overall accuracy of a GNSS-A experiment is significantly improved with additional information about the relative depths of the instruments. Baseline lengths also improve the accuracy, but only when combined with depth differences. The codes in <i>Python3</i> used in this article are freely available online.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/3/448seafloor geodesyoffshore geodesyabsolute seafloor positioninggnss-acousticsimulationsleast-squares inversionacoustic two-way-travel timesdepth differencesbaseline lengths |
| spellingShingle | Pierre Sakic Valérie Ballu Jean-Yves Royer A Multi-Observation Least-Squares Inversion for GNSS-Acoustic Seafloor Positioning Remote Sensing seafloor geodesy offshore geodesy absolute seafloor positioning gnss-acoustic simulations least-squares inversion acoustic two-way-travel times depth differences baseline lengths |
| title | A Multi-Observation Least-Squares Inversion for GNSS-Acoustic Seafloor Positioning |
| title_full | A Multi-Observation Least-Squares Inversion for GNSS-Acoustic Seafloor Positioning |
| title_fullStr | A Multi-Observation Least-Squares Inversion for GNSS-Acoustic Seafloor Positioning |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Multi-Observation Least-Squares Inversion for GNSS-Acoustic Seafloor Positioning |
| title_short | A Multi-Observation Least-Squares Inversion for GNSS-Acoustic Seafloor Positioning |
| title_sort | multi observation least squares inversion for gnss acoustic seafloor positioning |
| topic | seafloor geodesy offshore geodesy absolute seafloor positioning gnss-acoustic simulations least-squares inversion acoustic two-way-travel times depth differences baseline lengths |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/3/448 |
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