Sound Sheds Light- Bridging the Information Gap Using Low-Cost, Side Scan Sonar

Symposium Introduction: Despite the ecological and cultural importance of navigable waterways, aquatic conservationists are often limited in their ability to characterize the physical environment beneath the water surface.  Where depth, turbidity, cost, or training once hindered the mapping of habitat across large spatial scales, it is now possible to capture high resolution imagery and classify habitat in striking detail using recreational-grade, side scan sonar.  In the last 10 years, a field has emerged around this technology with the development of novel techniques for surveying waterways, the investigation of habitat-organism relationships across waterscapes, the assessment of habitat changes over time, and even the detection of resident fauna.  Inspiration can be drawn from landscape ecology, a field that has flourished using remote sensing and GIS capabilities.  As more practitioners turn to low-cost, side scan sonar to gain perspective on aquatic systems, the need to exchange ideas, to identify and test new applications, to develop effective reference materials, and garner support for programs charged with replacing blue lines on our maps with useful habitat data continues to grow.  By bringing together the early pioneers and interested community members, we hope to set the stage for another fruitful decade of discovery.