Forward looking sonar data simulation through tube tracing

Simulating realistic sonar data is crucial for tuning detection and classification algorithms according to environment and acquisition characteristics. Moreover, robustness of performances estimation and prediction applications can be greatly enhanced as soon as such a simulation tool provides both a modular underwater world representation (multiple sensors, environments and acquisition conditions) and a selection of several computational engines (ray theory, parabolic equation, …). Therefore, we developed such a framework for simulators, allowing both scene design and computational engine choice. Within it, two engines (one for rays, one for tubes) has been successfully implemented and realistic simulations obtained, as shown in the presented simulated sonar images. This paper introduces the simulation of a new imaging sensor (DIDSON acoustic camera) showing the extensibility of the proposed framework while providing realistic and specific front-looking simulated images. Moreover, in order to bypass the scene resolution given by the facet sizes, some georeferenced perturbations are introduced in order to model sub-facet behaviors and produce more realistic responses from the scene with micro and macro textures on the output images.