MXPA96004795A - Sedimen classification system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an effective method for investigating marine sediment, characterized in that it comprises: (a) emitting an acoustic pulse towards the water column above the sediment, (b) receiving echoes of the pulse, (c) digitally sampling the echoes; (d) fractioning or dividing the samples according to a pre-selected number of time intervals following the emission, (e) for each of the intervals: using some of the fractional samples that form each of the intervals for estimating the echo intensity magnitude of the echoes, during each of the intervals, to produce a plurality of echo intensity magnitudes corresponding to the intervals: storing the plurality of the echo intensity magnitudes in the computer's memory; use the intensity magnitudes of the echo to generate enough information to estimate the sediment corresponding to the time intervals, and associate the information in the emoria of the computer with the magnitudes of the echo intensity, where the method also includes the repetition of steps (a) - (e) one or more vec

Description

SEDIMENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Since June 1985 the Naval Research Laboratory has been testing and developing a high-resolution seismic system with narrow beam width and normal incidence, which, when combined with a well-designed and verified software package, can have the '' ~ ability to accurately predict, almost in real time, the acoustic impedance, the type of sediment and various selected geotechnical properties of several meters above the seafloor while in a recognition mode in motion. The test was based, until recently, on the Echo Strength Measuring System developed at the beginning of the 1980's by Honeywell ELAC of Kiel, Germany A description of the ELAC system can be found in An Evaluation of The Honeywell ELAC Computer ized Sediment Classification System, by DN Lambert, (Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity Report 169, August 1988) The original ELAC system consisted of a narrow beam 15 kHz transducer, a high resolution analog paper recorder and an 8085 microprocessor-controlled signal processor that quantitatively measured the echo return intensity in P1325 / 96MX ten adjustable time windows that correspond to sediment depth intervals. Any of the first five or the last five of these echo intensity lines were plotted on a seismogram paper. The relative dispersion of the lines away from a baseline indicated the resistance of the echo return in each of the time windows. The wide separation between the lines denotes a strong acoustic return and a highly reflective sediment such as sand. A narrow separation between the lines indicates low reflectivity or soft muddy sediments. Using this method an experienced operator could, subjectively, predict quite well the type of sediment under the transducer. To quantify the acoustic return, ELAC, in response to the Naval Research Laboratory, developed an almost real-time software program that calculates an acoustic impedance profile of the sediment for each acoustic impulse, using the theory of standard acoustic sediment as exposed by C.S. Clay and H. Medwin, in ACOUSTICAL OCEANOGRAPHY (John Wiley &Sons, 1977. From the acoustic impedance profile, several empirical relationships developed by Hamilton could be used to precede several geotechnical properties of the sediment, almost in real time, while is in a recognition mode, see, for example EL Hamilton, P1325 / 96MX r Geoacoustic Modeling of the Sea Floor, 68 J. Acoustic Soc. Am. 1313 (No. 5, November 1980). The software for this system was designed to provide a research tool with extensive capabilities that will allow the updating of type software databases Hamilton as the user's knowledge improves. The system was difficult to operate and relatively unfriendly to the user. It was intended as a tool of , research, but never tried to operate, nor could it operate as a routine mapping or recognition instrument. Its output or emission, being a series of gross echo intensities, could not be easily correlated, much less directly, with the position of the ship or with any of several other data necessary for recognition. There is a great need for a remote, easily operable and almost fully automated sea floor classification system that can routinely produce maps of seafloor properties for a multitude of applications. In the article Development of a High Resolution Acoustic Seafloor Classification Survey System, by D.N. Lambert et al., Which appeared in Proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics, vol. 15, part 2, p. 149 (1993), the need for this system was pointed out and its form was described, and which was originally presented at the University of Bath, P1325 / 96MX 'England, on April 16, 1993 or immediately after, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the foregoing, an objective of the invention is to provide a useful system for the recognition of marine sediments and the classification of said sediments with depth. Another objective is to allow this system to be almost fully automated. Another objective is to allow this system to be relatively fast and easy to use. Another objective is to allow the deployment, almost in real time, of the data generated and produced in a readable form for a human to allow adjustment "on the fly" of the system by the operator. Another objective is that the raw data generated by the system will have associated with them information that allows the easy conversion of the data into maps or graphs. Another objective is that the output of the data through this system will be in a form easily convertible into maps or computer generated graphics. In accordance with these and other objectives that will become apparent, below, the invention has to do with a computer-driven system that receives data P1325 / 96MX of echo intensity stored in time and that, for each series of echo intensities received, stores the echo intensity data in a computer readable memory and automatically associates with that data the latitude, longitude and time in the which data were generated. From these data, the software classifies the sediments that produced the echo intensities, determining parameters such as the acoustic impedance of the sediment, the porosity, the attenuation, the grain size, the density, the acoustic velocity and the cut resistance. . The system software can produce additional result files in which these properties are associated with the corresponding echo intensity data. Both raw and reduced data are displayed in human readable form, preferably on a computer monitor for operator review. The system software can also generate navigation graphs that trace on a map, preferably on a computer monitor, points at which the data and background sediment were taken at these points. The software of the system, together with packages of standard computer graphics can display the data in all these files, both after the fact and almost in real time for the operator's review, because this information is deployable almost in real time.

P1325 / 96MX operator receives immediate feedback that can inform you of system problems that require corrections, of the presence of buried objects directly under the boat, etc. When being operated by computer the system, the taking of data mainly is automated. This, plus the information attached to the echo intensities, makes the system an attractive tool for recognition and mapping. These and other objects will be further understood from the following detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention. However, it will be understood that the system is capable of an application that extends beyond the precise details of these modalities. Changes and modifications to the modalities may be effected without affecting the spirit of the invention or exceeding its scope, as expressed in the appended claims. The modalities are described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a flow chart that provides an overview of one embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating P1325 / 96MX '' the i.ni.ci.o of the mode, before the data collection. Figure 3 is a display such as would preferably occur on the screen of a computer monitor that appears at startup. Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the mode during data collection. Figure 5 is a database that correlates the acoustic impedance with the type of sediment used "" "" "by the modality Figure 6 is a display, as it would preferably be on a screen of a computer monitor, that appears during the data collection or later in the reproduction of the data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the Figures of the Drawings, where the numbers that are the same indicate similar parts or steps in all the various views, Figure 1 shows in a general form the main components of a mode according to the invention, the lines with arrow of Figure 1 indicate the direction in which the information flows between the components of the system. A data acquisition computer 5 controls the external acoustic hardware or equipment, the hardware or equipment includes an acoustic transducer 12 for the launch or emission of a P1325 / 96MX * .. acoustic pulse (pulse) 16 to a column of water and receiving impulse echoes and a digitizer 14 to return the echoes to computer 5 in the form of digital samples. A sediment sorting computer 10 contains several software packages which in turn control the acquisition and reduction of acoustic data entering the computer 5. The startup program 20 allows an operator to adjust the system prior to the operation. . With the software 20 the operator can recover from memory or create a calibration file 30, which preferably contains system initialization and calibration data, such as pulse frequency, pulse length, power level or pulse energy, pulse shape , gain of the transducer, etc. , which the system will use during data capture and reduction. The online software package 22 controls the storage and deployment, almost in real time, of the data generated by the system for inspection of the operator on a computer monitor screen 26. The data acquisition computer 5 allows the operator to command the acoustic transducer 12 to send or emit acoustic signals (impulses) towards a water column above a marine sediment of interest, to receive the echoes back from the sediment and transduce the echoes in the corresponding analog voltages. He P1325 / 96MX digitizer 14 converts the analog signals into the corresponding digital samples and sends them to the computer 5 to process them in appropriate format and values, and from here to the computer 10 where the software package 22 stores them in data files 28 raw. The software package 22, called the "online program" because it acts on the echo data as it is received, also reads the latitude and longitude of the "*:" interface 18 of the Global Processing System (GPS) and Attach the data to the echo samples in the raw data file 28, along with the time the signal was received. The time is read, either from an internal clock (not shown) on the computer 10 or, preferably, from the time received from the GPS 18. As the echo data is accumulated in the raw data file 28, the online package 22 processes them to display them almost in real time on the monitor 26 of the computer, so that the system operator can have an idea of how well the system is operating and the nature of the data that is being collecting. The online package 22 also creates a data file 40 called a navigation file that records for each pulse, the date, time, latitude and longitude, the accuracy of the GPS signal and a prediction of the composition of the layer more superior of the sediment below P1325 / 96MX the water column, that is, the layer at the interface, water-sediment. The offline software package 24 can take the raw data file 28 and / or the navigation file 40 and reprocess the data in other reports and various graphics, which will be seen later. Even though Figure 1 is illustrated as part of the software in the process computer 10For convenience, software 24 can be run on a separate computer. The computer 10 is preferably programmed to read in parallel the raw data 28 and the navigation data 40 in the peripheral storage medium, such as optical discs or Bernoulli disks (not shown), for the rapid transfer of data for use in the remote computers. The same computers 5 and 10 preferably are common personal computers that can easily and conveniently be carried on the ship and be easily adjusted and operated there. The computers are preferably based on 80486 or better microprocessors, with an MS-DOS operating system, which allows the software to run quickly and efficiently and which allows the algorithms of the software programs presented here to run almost in real time and allow Do it with computers that are readily available and relatively inexpensive. However, this does not prevent the use of more computers P1325 / 96MX sophisticated with parallel processing capabilities. With particular reference to Figures 1-2, to start the operation of the system, an operator would start running the system software on the computer 10, in response to which preferably a menu 32 of the main system would appear, which has as its selectable options, The main software packages of the system, of which the start package 20 is one. After selecting the startup software 20, the separator can select to view and / or edit the device settings (37) (e.g., transducer gain 12, pulse length, average factor, frequency, etc.). ), select a database to be used in the reduction of data to be taken (46) or start the calibration of the software system (60) or exit the program (70). With the start of the program, the program 20 reads the file (43) of the device's default settings. If the operator chooses to edit the device settings, then the new settings are converted to the default settings and the settings file (43) is updated. These device settings are stored in the calibration file 30 (step 36) for use by online software packages 22 and offline 24. If the operator selects a database (46), the software 20 displays a menu with two selections, P1325 / 96MX "(47) and (48) The database B (47) contains search tables that correlate the acoustic impedance with the type of sediment, an example of this database is shown in Figure 5. database 48 contains search tables that correlate the acoustic impedance with the properties of the sediment (density, velocity, porosity, attenuation, grain size, sonic velocity and resistance to shear or other properties), whose examples rf ^ ~~ are shown Later, when selecting any of the databases, the operator can observe or avoid the databases (50, 53), create new databases (51, 54) or delete existing databases (50, 55). The operator then selects the calibration function from the start program menu These selections cause the operator to instruct the data acquisition computer 5 to send a series of pulses (16) from the transducer 12. The transducer 12 then receives the echoes of the impulses that are finally recorded as digital samples, as mentioned above. For each pulse, the data acquisition computer 5 groups or "saves" the samples in a series of sequential time intervals (62) after the pulse and converts the samples in each interval into a digital number representative of the echo intensity during the interval (for example, averaging and integrating P1325 / 96MX samples in each window to produce integrated or averaged amplitudes). After each pulse, the software 20 displays the data on the monitor 26 of the processing computer 10 (step 26 in Figure 2) in a bit numerical weighting form and graphically in the form of a ulticnal bar graph (nominally ten ) that correlates the color with the intensity of the signal in each sediment interval. Preferably, warning and alarm windows of instantaneous appearance inform the operator of any communication or any anomaly in the serial port. The color bar graph also tells the operator the actual signal strength and warns you that the signal may be too low or too high (where signal clipping may occur) so that the data stream can be inadequate for measurements to be made. From this, the software 20 produces a normalization factor to be entered into the calibration file 30, which is used by the online software 22 and the offline software 24. The normalization factor is simply a scaling factor used to normalize all the time series that leave the data acquisition computer 5 for the configuration of the system (frequency used, pulse length, power or power level, set of gains, width of the P1325 / 96MX signal beam, cable length, etc.). Using the magnitude of the echo intensities and conventional acoustic principles, the software 20 calculates the acoustic reflection coefficient of the bottom sediment. This reflection coefficient is then compared with a reflection coefficient introduced into the computer by the operator and representing the known reflection coefficient of the sediment of the bottom on which the data is being collected. The normalization factor is calculated from a comparison of these two values and stored. To smooth fluctuations and ensure better data in some other way, the normalization factor is preferably calculated based on averaged returns of several pulses (for example 64 pulses) whose echo intensities are averaged through the corresponding time deposits or " windows. " Upon completion, the calibration file (30) is stored within the computer 10 to be used during real-time data acquisition or for subsequent reprocessing and is given a unique name. This file can then be edited using the reporting software 70. This or other calibration files can be used at a later date during data acquisition or reprocessing P1325 / 96MX ~ simply by retrieving it from a list provided by the screen operated by the software menu 22. While the pulse is processed, the software 20 simultaneously displays the echo strengths deposited at time intervals for the operator's review, preferably at a computer monitor 26 in the form of a bar graph, an example of this is shown in Figure 3. In the upper left corner of Figure 3"~ in a display entitled" range amplitudes ", the echo intensities are displayed as an array of vertically extending bars, each bar corresponds to a time interval (time increases as one progresses from the top bar to the bottom) and, the horizontal length of each bar represents the amplitude of the echo intensity received in each interval, measured in volts of the transducer.The highest bar r is the echo coming from the water-depth interface (the intervals above). Preferably they are deployed), and as would be expected is of greater intensity, when measured at 1.7 volts in transducer 12. The next interval is less intense (1.1 volts). The next four intervals have echoes at 1.0 volt, 0.8. volt, 0.2 volt and 0.2 volt respectively. The additional intervals practically do not contain echo at all, indicating the complete attenuation of the impulse. This same P1325 / 96MX information is represented in the display background on a line labeled "Raw Data: -" ("Raw Data: -") that presents the magnitude of each numeric bit weight of the interval. In the lower right corner of Figure 3, the depth of the water is displayed along with the approximate thickness of the sediment traversed by the acoustic signal in each time interval. As the impulse returns arrive, the operator can see the display of Figure 3 and determine "on the fly" if any of the system adjustments need adjustment (37, Figure 2), for example, pulse repetition interval , transducer gain, interval width, averaging factor, etc. and modify it if necessary (38). After determining that the initial system settings are appropriate, this data is stored as a calibration file. The operator can then return to the main menu, select the software online and start taking data using the stored calibration file 30. This process is illustrated in the flow diagram of Figure 4. From the main menu, an operator selects the online software package 22. The operator selects a calibration file for use with this particular data acquisition (61). If the operator has just run to the startup software 20, P1325 / 96MX as mentioned above, presumably the calibration file developed in it will be used, although the operator can call from the memory of the computer a list of previously stored calibration files and use any of these to adjust the processing parameters of the software for data collection. The operator also selects the name of a raw data file 28 in which the "" - system will write the echo data in the memory (61) of the computer and, a navigation file 40 to write the navigation data ( 61). The online software 22 checks if there is a raw data file with this name (63), warns the operator that one already exists and allows the operator to overwrite it (65). If the operator chooses not to overwrite, the software returns to step 61, allowing the operator to select a new name for the raw data file. After which, in a similar way the software 22 asks if there is a navigation file with the selected name (69). If so, the software 22 loads that file (73) so that the navigation data generated subsequently can be appended; if not, the software 22 creates a new file in the memory of the computer 10 (71). Before the start of the data collection, the software 22 allows the operator to see the system configuration P1325 / 96MX (75). If the adjustments are not correct, the operator can readjust them (77, 81). For example, the operator could change the data bit width to match that of digitizer samples 14 to, for example, six or eight bits, the settings for the display of navigation on the graphics screen (which will be described below). below) are adjustable for the display scale as well as the latitude and longitude positions of the display, the location of the serial communications port input, where the software 22 expects to receive the echo intensity data, the location of the output of the serial communications port, where the software 22 will optionally transmit the GPS data to the auxiliary equipment if it is in use and the address of the GPS receiver board of the computer 10, etc. Having this mode initialized In the system, the operator can select the menu option from the keyboard so that the online software starts the data collection (79). The software 22 verifies that all the necessary files are identified and accessible (83). If not, the software 22 signals an error and sends the operator back to step 75, where the system configuration can again be inspected. With the recognition by software that all the settings are correct (or at least they are not incorrect) that is, they are not P1325 / 96MX impossible) and complete, the software 22 starts to receive the echo intensity data sampled in time (85) from the data acquisition computer 5. If the software 22 does not receive the echo intensity data sampled in time within a predetermined time, the software 22 stops the operation and returns the operator to the main menu 22. For each pulse, the data acquisition computer 5 converts the returns of digitizer 14 in time-series echo intensities, as mentioned above, and sends those echo intensities to computer 10 for processing by on-line software 22. Software 22 append the additional specific information of the intensities of echo to the conditions of the acquisition of particular data, such as water depth, width of the sediment interval and store the data in memory in the raw data file 28 (94). The software 22 also reads the GPS receiver 18 to determine the present latitude and longitude and also append this information to the raw data, together with the time at which the echo intensity measurements were received (94). The software 22 then applies the theory of multilayer acoustic sediment as set forth in the paper by Clay and Medwin, and Lambert, or another suitable method for P1325 / 96MX determine the acoustic impedance (pc) of the sediments at the depths corresponding to each interval from which the transducer 12 received an echo (96). Software 22 then takes these acoustic impedances and uses them to determine the constituents of the sediments that produced the echoes and to infer any of several geoacoustic parameters, such as sediment type, attenuation, density, porosity, grain size , sonic velocity and resistance to cutting or other parameters (98). This is done after Hamilton's form, using query tables in the computer's memory that correlate the acoustic impedance with the type of sediment or with these geoacoustic properties; or it is done using a relationship formula. An example of this database is shown in Figure 5. It presents a table that correlates acoustic impedance ("Rho C") with the "layer type", for both "Homogeneous" and "Heterogeneous" sediment layers. Provide some prior knowledge! of the nature of the sediments under test and a measured acoustic impedance, one can use the table to consult a coded letter corresponding to a type of sediment. For example, an impedance of 2.6 is associated for both sediments, the homogeneous and the heterogeneous with the letter "B", which corresponds to "fine sand", etc. The databases of P1325 / 96MX "" this type were developed by Hamilton. These should generally be produced for different locations and verified initially by taking true samples of land cores. The data base of Figure 5 is for Ship Island, Ms., which corresponds to typical shallow water data from the Gulf of Mexico. Experience indicates that sediments having similar composition are sufficiently consistent from one place to another within a region, so the use of a proven database will likely yield useful results over a wide geographical range. The results of this sorting process are stored in memory, impulse by impulse, deposit of time by deposit for time, as files of results 50 of data of the 5 properties of the sediment (Figure 1). The software 22 will continue to receive data until the operator completes the process by pressing a predefined key on the computer board 10 (not shown) or, when the computer 10 stops receiving 0 data. The software 22 also takes the provisions to change the displayed parameter (steps 106, 108), for example, of attenuation at sonic speed, from impulse to impulse (steps 110, 112, 114), preferably by supplying a rapid key or Immediate execution of the 5 operator (not shown). P1325 / 96MX However, preferably the data is displayed as in Figure 6. In the upper left corner of the display there are two graphs labeled "Impedance Values (" Impedance Values ") and" Echo Strength Amplitudes "(" Intensity Amplitudes "). Eco ") The last one is a bar graph, similar to the one in Figure 3 that shows the intensity of the echo as a function of the interval The echo intensities of each interval are preferably color-coded according to the acoustic impedance of the layers to which the interval corresponds In the upper right corner there is a sliding cascade type display for the last 288 impedance impulses predicted or any of the other properties data of the sediment (density, porosity, etc.) with a color code for the values of the value of the property (see the color key in the upper left corner) with the depth of the sediment in the time window. At the bottom right, there is a graph of the depth of the water (that is, the altitude of the transducer 12). During the operation, as the echo intensity data goes through the system, the predicted impedance or sediment property will change on the screen 26 in accordance with the value of the predicted parameter. The data in the two displays on the right side of Figure 6 will slide P1325 / 96MX / "" "horizontally across the screen, the most recent data enters on the left, the less recent ones exit on the right, and software 22 also creates (or updates at the discretion of the operator) data for the archive. navigation 40 recording the latitude and longitude and the impedance value determined for the sediment-water interface Figure 6 has this graph in the corner - lower left where it would appear on monitor 26 of the computer. in the graph they represent points of latitude and longitude in which the data were taken and, as seen in the Figure, tend to be resolved in trajectory lines that follow the course of the ship during data collection. of Figure 6 has a plurality of trajectory lines indicating that the navigation data file from which the graph came, represents a corresponding plurality of data acquisitions, which e they are updated from one to the next. The impedance 0 of the background is preferably indicated by each point data in the graph having a color in accordance with a preselected color code. For example, each color represents a range of impedance values-see top-left color code key. The interval 5 of the graph in latitude and in longitude P1325 / 96MX is preferably a default value or a value that the user previously adjusted. When the data reception process is finished (110), the software returns to the main menu (32). In some other way, the data collection will continue, however, the operator can change the parameter settings "on the fly" from impulse to impulse- or, change the display on the monitor 26 (for example, to the porosity, attenuation or other present geoacoustic property mentioned above, rather than impedance). Thus, for example, if the data as observed on the monitor (105 of Figure 4) is found to have failed due to, for example, a normalization factor of an inappropriate average factor, the operator can adjust these ( 114) for subsequent impulses. To improve the quality of the sediment classification and the unfolding process, the time intensities of several consecutive pulses are preferably averaged over the corresponding time intervals, as discussed above with respect to the start and calibration software. Making data of this type to be deployed almost in real time makes the system especially valuable as a research tool to locate buried objects. These objects usually return very noticeable echo indications - by P1325 / 96MX "'~ example, a return markedly more intense than that of the superimposed sediment-that the operator can point or mark immediately on monitor 26 of computer 10. Off-line software package 24 (Figure 1) is almost identical to online software 22, but is designed to allow the repetition of previously taken data and, although in Figure 1 it is shown as' - loaded on computer 10, it could also be resident on a separate computer , for example, in a computer center with a domestic port. Offline software 24 takes a pre-existing raw data file, a calibration file and a navigation file for input and processes the raw data in the same way as online software 22 does, producing the same display in monitor as shown in Figure 6. The output of the software 24 is one or more data files 50 of sediment properties which records as a function of the position, the properties of the sediment (for example, the type of sediment, the impedance, attenuation, etc., with the depth below the bottom, as well as the depth of the water below the transducer 12). The software program called "Report" allows an operator to view, edit, print or export data from files P1325 / 96MX generated by other system software and, preferably, runs independently of other system software. It is especially valuable for manipulating huge data files of multimegabyte. Its display labels the time intervals of the data in the file that is being observed. The operator can jump to several points by typing in the time data, and jumping from one time stamp in the file to another. This allows the fast movement of the operator in the file. Program 70 allows the operator to print a segment of the file, put in square brackets for the times entered by the operator. Similarly, the operator can export these formatted file segments for incorporation into other software, for example, graphics packages, using the program 70. For example, the exported data fields can be delimited by a fixed width, "simple or other markers required by various target software, program 70 also allows the editing of calibration files to allow reprocessing of raw data with the calibration files edited to allow the operator to execute a "what if" with the In a calibration file, the operator can use program 70 to edit a normalization factor, the data averaging factor and any reference pulse that the system P1325 / 96MX can use. A reference pulse is a series of synthetic echo intensities that the system can subtract from the received echoes to correct system anomalies, for example, peculiarities in the transducer 12. The Navplotr 80 program, also a separate software package, is an especially useful tool to produce cumulative navigation charts. Program 80 reads latitude and longitude, together with the surface sediment impedance of an existing raw data file or existing path lines from an existing navigation file and displays cumulative path lines on the screen for inspection operator. This program is especially useful during the planning and execution of large surveys or when conducting bottom searches (for example, if one is looking for a large field of surface sand as a source of beach fill and the operator finds that an area covered mainly by Once the slime has been recognized, the operator could then decide to continue the search elsewhere.The ASCS2CPS 180 software is especially useful for formatting data for commercial contour mapping packages.The program 180 reads multiple result files, that is, those that include properties of P1325 / 96 X} '' sediment and navigation data (latitude, longitude and impedance data deposited by time intervals) and displays the navigation data on the screen.

Using the cursor on the board, an operator can draw a box around a desired area and can sort the result data entered inside to be exported for the development of a map. This program is especially useful since it can process data in an area • '-' * - geographical bigger than it could be hosted by a file. As mentioned above, the system preferably infers various geoacoustic properties of sediments by references to the query tables that relate the properties to the acoustic impedance. These pictures are presented below for the vicinity of Ship Island, Mississippi: P1325 / 96MX -2 Attenuation = = dB / lambda Impedance = 100 * gm / s / cm " Impedance Attenuation Impedance Attenuation 1. 55 0.054 2.80 0.478 1. 60 0.059 2.85 0.540 1. 65 0.065 2.90 0.602 1. 70 0.070 2.95 0.662 1. 75 0.075 3.00 0.722 1. 80 0.080 3.05 0.781 1. 85 0.084 3.10 0.749 1. 90 0.089 3.15 0.688 1. 95 0.095 3.20 0.627 2. 00 0.098 3.25 O.567 2. 05 0.102 3.30 0.518 2. 10 0.106 3.35 0.512 2. 15 0.110 3.40 0.506 2. 20 0.114 3.45 0.500 2. 25 0.118 3.50 0.494 2. 30 0.122 3.55 0.488 2. 35 0.125 3.60 0.482 2. 40 0.129 3.65 0.476 2. 45 0.133 3.70 0.470 2. 50 0.136 3.75 0.465 2. 55 0.155 3.80 0.459 2. 60 0.222 3.85 0.454 2. 65 0.287 3.90 0.448 2. 70 0.352 3.95 0.441 2. 75 0.416 4.00 0.433 / 9ÓMX / '• Density = gm / cm "3 I pedancia = 100 * gm / s / cm - Impedance Density Impedance Density 1. 55 1.10 2.80 -1.72 1.60 1.60 1.12 2.85 1.74 1.65 1.60 1.23 3.15 1.86 1.95 1.27 3.20 1.88 2.00 1.31 3.25 1.90 2.05 1.34 3.30 1.91 2.10 1.37 3.35 1.93 2.15 1.40 3.40 1.95 2.20 1.98 1.33 3.45 2.03 2.45 1.97 2.25 2.25 1.46 3.50 1.59 3.75 2.06 2.55 1.61 3.80 2.08 2.60 1.64 3.85 2.09 2.65 1.66 3.90 2.11 2.70 1.68 3.95 2.13 2.75 1.70 4.00 2.14 P1325 / 96MX Impedance = 100 * gm / s / cm "Porosity =%> edance Porosity Impedance Porosity 1. 55 95.10 2.80 44.86 1.60 92.04 2.85 43.74 1.65 89.07 2.90 42.68 1.70 86.22 2.95 41.66 1.75 83.46 3.00 40.68 1.80 80.80 3.05 39.75 1.85 78.24 3.10 38.85 1.90 75.77 3.15 38.00 1.95 73.40 3.20 37.17 2.00 71.11 3.25 36.38 2.05 68.92 3.30 35.62 2.10 66.80 3.35 34.89 2.15 64.77 3.40 34.18 2.20 62.82 3.45 33.49 2.25 60.95 3.50 32.83 / • * 2.30 59.16 3.55 32.18 2.35 57.44 3.60 21.56 2.40 49.84 3.65 30.94 2.45 54.53 3.70 30.34 2.50 52.68 3.75 29.75 2.55 51.23 3.80 29.16 2.60 49.84 3.85 28.57 2.65 48.51 3.90 27.99 2.70 47.24 3.95 27.41 2.75 46.02 4.00 26.83 P1325 / 96MX Grain size = Phi Impedance = -2 100 * gm / s / cm Impedance Impedance size Grain grain size 1. 55 9.30 2.80 2.34 1. 60 8.73 2.85 2.25 1. 65 8.20 2.90 2.16 1. 70 7.69 2.95 2.07 1. 75 7.22 3.00 1.98 1. 80 6.78 3.05 1.90 1. 85 6.37 3.10 1.81 1.

P1325 / 96MX

Claims (21)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property; 1. An effective method for investigating marine sediment, characterized in that it comprises: (a) emitting an acoustic impulse towards the water column above the sediment; (b) receive impulse echoes; (c) digitally sampling the echoes; (d) fractioning or dividing the samples according to a pre-selected number of time intervals following the issue; (e) for each of the intervals: using some of the fractional samples forming each of the intervals to estimate the echo intensity magnitude of the echoes, during each of the intervals, to produce a plurality of intensity magnitudes of the echo corresponding to the intervals: storing the plurality of the echo intensity quantities in the computer's memory; use the intensity magnitudes of the echo to generate sufficient information to estimate the sediment corresponding to the time intervals; Y P1325 / 96MX associate the information in the computer's memory with the magnitudes of the echo intensity; wherein the method further comprises repeating steps (a) - (e) one or more times. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the deployment of one or more of the plurality of echo intensity magnitudes in a computer monitor effective for human observation almost in real time. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: recording the intensity magnitudes of the echo in the computer's memory as an echo-intensity register for the pulse; and associate with each echo-intensity record the latitude and longitude at which the reception of the echoes occurred. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the information is the acoustic impedance of the sediment associated with a corresponding interval of each of the intervals. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises the deployment of the acoustic impedance of the sediment associated with a corresponding interval of each of the intervals, in a P1325 / 96MX r ^. effective computer monitor for human observation almost in real time. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises: associating in the memory of the computer, with the recording of echo intensity of the acoustic impedance of the sediment associated with a corresponding interval of each of the intervals. 7. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises: using the acoustic impedance of the sediment associated with a corresponding interval of each of the intervals to predict the material constituting the sediment associated with each of the intervals. The method according to claim 7, "characterized in that it comprises the deployment of the predicted material constituting the sediment associated with each of the intervals in a computer monitor effective for human observation almost in real time." 9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises: associating in the memory of the computer with the plurality of intensity magnitudes of echo, the predicted material constituting the sediment associated with P1325 / 96MX r "~ a corresponding interval of each of the intervals 10. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises: using the acoustic impedance of the associated sediment with a corresponding interval of each of the intervals to predict a selected geoacoustical parameter of the sediment associated with each of the intervals 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises the deployment of the selected geoacoustic parameter in a computer monitor effective for human observation almost in real time. method according to claim 10, characterized in that the information comprises the predicted value of the geoacoustic parameter selected from the sediment associated with each of the intervals. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the geoacoustic parameter selected is a member of the group consisting of: attenuation, acoustic velocity, shear strength, porosity and grain size. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises associating in the computer memory the plurality of magnitudes of echo intensity and the latitude and longitude at which the P132b / 9 (5MX reception of the echoes) 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that it also includes the display, on a computer monitor, of a latitude and longitude graph of the place where the reception occurred. apparatus for investigating marine sediment, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a means for emitting an impulse < -? acoustic towards the water column above the sediment; (b) a means receiving impulse echoes; (c) a means to digitally sample the echoes; (d) a means of fractionating the samples according to a pre-selected number of time intervals following the emission; (e) a means for each of the intervals: to use some of the fractional samples forming each of the intervals to estimate the echo intensity magnitude of the echoes, during each of the intervals to produce a plurality of magnitudes of echo intensity corresponding to the intervals; a means for storing the plurality of the echo intensity magnitudes in the computer's memory; P1325 / 96MX means to use the intensity magnitudes of the echo to generate sufficient information to estimate the sediment corresponding to the time intervals; and a means to associate the information in the computer's memory with the intensity magnitudes of the echo; wherein the apparatus further comprises means for causing the emitting means to emit at least one additional pulse. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the information is the acoustic impedance of the sediment associated with a corresponding interval of each of the intervals. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the means for using the magnitudes of the echo intensity causes the information to be the acoustic impedance of the segment associated with a corresponding interval of each of the intervals. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises means for associating, in the computer memory, the plurality of intensity magnitudes of the echo and the latitude and longitude at which the reception of the echoes occurred. 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, P1325 / 96MX characterized in that it further comprises: means for using the acoustic impedance of the sediment associated with a corresponding interval of each of the intervals to predict a geoacoustic parameter selected from the sediment associated with each of the intervals. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that: "~ the means for using the echo intensity magnitudes causes the information to comprise the predicted value of the geoacoustic parameter selected from the sediment associated with each of the intervals, and the geoacoustic parameter Selected is a member of the group consisting of: attenuation, acoustic velocity, cut resistance, porosity and grain size. P1325 / 96MX