Using multispectral satellite data to determine littoral water depths despite varying water turbidity
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- storing a first light intensity value indicative of a radiance at a first wavelength emanating from a surface area of a body of water at a first time;
storing a second light intensity value indicative of the radiance at the first wavelength emanating from the surface area of the body of water at a second time;
calculating a plurality of modeled light intensity values at the first wavelength, wherein each of the plurality of modeled light intensity values is indicative of the radiance at the first wavelength emanating from the surface area of the body of water, and wherein each of the plurality of modeled light intensity values depends on an assumed bottom cover on a bottom below the surface area and on an assumed depth between the surface area and the bottom;
determining a plurality of first differences between the first light intensity value and each of the plurality of modeled light intensity values;
determining a plurality of second differences between the second light intensity value and each of the plurality of modeled light intensity values;
minimizing a deviation among the plurality of first differences and the plurality of second differences by varying the assumed depth and the assumed bottom cover; and
displaying an estimated depth between the surface area and the bottom, wherein the estimated depth is the assumed depth that results in the minimized deviation among the plurality of first differences and the plurality of second differences, and wherein the estimated depth is displayed on a graphical user interface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Satellite data is used to determine water depth by accounting for the changing turbidity of the water over time and without requiring calibration using SONAR measurements. Radiance values at multiple wavelengths sensed at both a first time and a second time are stored in a database. Modeled reflectance values are calculated for a defined surface area on the water based on an assumed depth, assumed water constituents and assumed bottom cover. A plurality of differences between the modeled reflectance values and the reflectances sensed at the two times are calculated. A bathymetry application module minimizes the sum of the differences between the modeled and sensed subsurface reflectances by varying the assumed depth, bottom cover and water constituents. The differences are weighted based on wavelength before being summed. The depth that results in the minimized sum of the differences is the estimated depth, which is displayed on a graphical user interface.
6 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
storing a first light intensity value indicative of a radiance at a first wavelength emanating from a surface area of a body of water at a first time; storing a second light intensity value indicative of the radiance at the first wavelength emanating from the surface area of the body of water at a second time; calculating a plurality of modeled light intensity values at the first wavelength, wherein each of the plurality of modeled light intensity values is indicative of the radiance at the first wavelength emanating from the surface area of the body of water, and wherein each of the plurality of modeled light intensity values depends on an assumed bottom cover on a bottom below the surface area and on an assumed depth between the surface area and the bottom; determining a plurality of first differences between the first light intensity value and each of the plurality of modeled light intensity values; determining a plurality of second differences between the second light intensity value and each of the plurality of modeled light intensity values; minimizing a deviation among the plurality of first differences and the plurality of second differences by varying the assumed depth and the assumed bottom cover; and displaying an estimated depth between the surface area and the bottom, wherein the estimated depth is the assumed depth that results in the minimized deviation among the plurality of first differences and the plurality of second differences, and wherein the estimated depth is displayed on a graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method comprising:
-
storing first light intensity values at a plurality of wavelengths each associated with a first surface area of a body of water, wherein each of the first light intensity values is acquired at a first time; storing second light intensity values at the plurality of wavelengths each associated with the first surface area of the body of water, wherein each of the second light intensity values is acquired at a second time; calculating modeled light intensity values at the plurality of wavelengths each associated with the first surface area of the body of water, wherein each of the modeled light intensity values depends on a reflectance of an assumed bottom cover on a bottom below the first surface area and on an assumed depth between the first surface area and the bottom; determining a plurality of differences between the modeled light intensity values on the one hand and the first and second light intensity values on the other hand for each of the plurality of wavelengths; minimizing a sum of the plurality of differences by varying the assumed depth and the reflectance of the assumed bottom cover; and displaying an estimated depth between the first surface area and the bottom, wherein the estimated depth is the assumed depth that results in the minimized sum of the plurality of differences, and wherein the estimated depth is displayed on a graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system for determining water depth, comprising:
-
a satellite database containing first light intensity values acquired over a plurality of wavelengths and second light intensity values acquired over the plurality of wavelengths, wherein the first light intensity values are acquired at a first time, and the second light intensity values are acquired at a second time, and wherein the first and second light intensity values are all associated with a defined surface area of a body of water; a data analysis server that calculates modeled light intensity values at the plurality of wavelengths, wherein each of the modeled light intensity values is associated with the defined surface area and depends on a reflectance by an assumed bottom cover on a bottom below the defined surface area and on an assumed depth between the defined surface area and the bottom, wherein for each of the plurality of wavelengths the data analysis server determines a plurality of differences between the modeled light intensity values on the one hand and the first and second light intensity values on the other hand and minimizes a sum of the plurality of differences by varying the assumed depth and the reflectance of the assumed bottom cover; and a graphical user interface on which an estimated depth between the defined surface area and the bottom is displayed, wherein the estimated depth is the assumed depth that results in the minimized sum of the plurality of differences. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification