Algorithm for generating bathymetric chart from remote sensing data

The selected study area is the Strait of Penang, located in the north western part of peninsula Malaysia. Satellite imagery is employed as an aid to bathymetric charting. The depth sounding points retrieved from published bathymetric chart are used for calibration. Cloud free scene of ADEOS AVNIR data acquired on 14 January 1997 was available for use in the present study. This scene was rectified to the corresponding bathymetric chart. Image locations were related to the chart coordinates through the second degree polynomial transformation equations. Multiband water depth algorithm was used in the calibration analysis. Regression technique was used for calibration of the satellite signals for water depth recorded in the bathymetric map of the selected locations. The correlation coefficient and root- mean-square deviations were examined. The accuracy of calibrated algorithm was further verified using other known sounding points. The calibrated algorithm was then applied to the corresponding image to generate a water depth map. The color coded bathymetric map was used for visual interpretation and assessment of the present water depth pattern.