Synthetic Aperture Sonar Image of Seafloor

Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS), modern technology for very high resolution seafloor mapping, when towed at 70-120 m above the seafloor generates high-quality backscatter image of the same with constant resolution of 40 cm x 40 cm. Research Vessel (RV) Samudra Ratnakar of the Geological Survey of India is equipped with Synthetic Aperture Mapping Sonar, SAMS DT-6000 (make: IXblue, France), the only one of its kind equipment in the world for civilian research purpose.