DUGi

Challenges of Close-Range Underwater Optical Mapping

http://dugi.udg.edu/item/http:@@@@hdl.handle.net@@2072@@281189

Underwater optical mapping often involves the useof image mosaicing techniques. High quality mosaicing requiresthe application of blending methods to achieve continuous andartifact-free mosaics. Image blending has a dilated history of overthree decades in the terrestrial and aerial fields. Unfortunately,the nature of the underwater medium adds additional difficultiesto the mosaicing and blending tasks. In this paper a surveyof the blending methods is given, focusing the attention onits applicability to underwater mosaicing. Image acquisitionis performed by Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) orRemotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) in the deep ocean, a mediumwith aggressive light absorption and disrupting scattering effectsthat requires of the use of artificial lighting. A comprehensivecomparison of the basic features and limitations of some of themost important existing blending techniques is presented. Thegoal is the generation of seamless and visually pleasant largearea photo-mosaics of the seafloor, free from double contouring,ghosting and other disturbing and common blending artifacts

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)