Multibeam sonar records data decimation using hierarchical spline interpolation

Multibeam sonar records feature high vertical and horizontal resolution. Interpolating and approximating and eventually displaying scattered 3D raster data of high volume leads to some difficulties related to a computer processing power. The paper presents some advantages of using hierarchical splines. The proposed approach consists of two stages: firstly, all acquired multibeam sonar raw data are interpolated with high density uniform spline interpolation. The knots and control points of interpolated network are saved for defined resolution level. In the next stage preprocessed high resolution data are combined with low resolution data sets following prior knot decimation process. Such approach allow real time 3D displaying of multibeam sonar data for different zoom levels.