Feasibility of Underwater Lidar Technology For Bottom Sensing

Lasers have been used for several decades to perform multiple functions in areas such as communication, detection, and imaging. Only recently have lasers been used to operate in the navigational realm, particularly for land vehicles such as self-driving cars. This technology has not been used to a wide extent under the surface of the ocean, however, due to the high scattering and absorption properties of seawater. Very little research on laser propagation has been done in areas of the ocean such as below the euphotic zone where the absorption of light is minimized due to the lack of organic material. This paper assesses the feasibility of lasers to be used for underwater navigational purposes and act as an alternative to existing bathymetric sensing devices. This is done by creating a computer model based on the Beer-Lambert law and the general lidar equation. Additionally, the stealth capabilities of a laser bathymetric device is discussed.