Analytical waveform generation from small objects in lidar bathymetry

Appl Opt. 1999 Feb 20;38(6):1021-39. doi: 10.1364/ao.38.001021.

Abstract

We present a model to simulate receiver waveforms from an airborne sea-depth-sounding lidar to compare the influence that is due to different shapes of objects placed on the sea bottom. The objects are of size 1 m(3), and the bottom depths are 5-12 m. We use an existing analytical beam-propagation model and divide the bottom into squares. For each element on the bottom grid we create a transmitted and a reflected waveform. The waveforms are summed, yielding a total contribution from all bottom elements. We compare two object types, cylinder and cube, and find that the difference in the receiver waveform is small between these objects. Simulated waveforms are compared with experimental data from the Swedish Hawk Eye system and show good agreement.