Characterization of phanerogam communities (Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa) using side- scan- sonar images

Abstract

This paper presents the most appropriate image-processing techniques available at the present time to differentiate two different seameadow communities, Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa . The pre-processing program is an integral part of the sonar system and, therefore is not discussed in this paper. We propose a methodology based on unsupervised classification to chart and monitor these meadows, so fundamentally important to the mediterranean ecosystem. The images used for discussion were of seabottoms in the Cabrera Archipielago in the Mediterranean Sea.