Horizon picking on subbottom profiles using multiresolution analysis

A fully automatic algorithm is proposed for the mapping of sediment layers on subbottom profiles. This mapping should significantly speed up data anal ysis and sedimentary data base building. The proposed method combines two t echniques: edge following algorithms and multiresolution analysis using the wavelet transform. Image analysis at different scales allows us to follow sediment layer contours without interruption, and with adequate accuracy. I n order to reduce detection errors a thresholding with hysteresis is first performed. The thresholds are automatically set according to data distribut ion. Performances of the algorithm are discussed, from testing on a set of real subbottom profile data. (C) 2001 Academic Press.