Wave propagation

Underwater acoustics with applications in oceanography and geophysics.

ABOUT R&D ACTIVITIES R&D PROGRAMS PUBLICATIONS PEOPLE CONTACT US

ABOUT

The Wave Propagation Group was established simultaneously with the foundation of the Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics in 1985. The main focus of the group is in the area of underwater acoustics with applications in oceanography and geophysics. Activity areas include forward propagation modelling, inverse problems such as ocean acoustic tomography, source localization, sea-bed reconstruction and inverse scattering, analysis of sonar performance, marine bioacoustics, statistical signal characterization and noise modelling. Further research interests refer to elastic and seismic waves. The group develops integrated software products to address problems in the above areas as well as for educational purposes (digital game-based learning) and also contributes to the education and training of students and young researchers. In addition to a large number of publications, the group has been organizing since 1996 a series of successful international conferences and workshops in underwater acoustics and wave propagation. Since 2000 the group maintains an underwater acoustic measurement laboratory for conducting scaled propagation experiments in a custom-built water tank, acoustic measurements in the sea, calibration of acoustic transducers, and more recently development of experimental acoustic devices. The group also maintains a seismological station for continuous monitoring of the seismicity in the area of Heraklion.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Ocean acoustic propagation modelling: The core of the group’s activities is the development of mathematical models that simulate acoustic wave propagation in the underwater environment. These models solve boundary value problems in unbounded domains based on the wave equation, the Helmholtz equation and its parabolic approximation and can be used to predict the acoustic field in environments of arbitrary bathymetry, bottom structure and sound-speed distribution. The development of efficient methods for the calculation of broadband acoustic fields and associated time-frequency analysis also belong to the activities of the group.

Ocean acoustic tomography: The group’s activity in ocean acoustic tomography (use of sound to sample sound-speed and temperature changes in the water column in the large scale) focuses on the development of enhanced analysis methods for tomographic data, based on wave-theoretic propagation modeling. Its contributions include modelling and sensitivity analysis of tomographic observables, methods for adaptive non-linear inversion, matched-field and matched-mode methods, statistical signal identification and inversion schemes, as well as schemes for automated analysis of tomography data. The group has participated in the design and analysis of large-scale tomography experiments in the Mediterranean Sea, the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean.

Inverse scattering in waveguides: The research in this area focuses on the reconstruction of velocity inhomogeneities from point source data for the wave equation, and on the study of global uniqueness for the reconstruction of the refraction index from the DtN map for the Helmholtz equation, on complex geometric optics for waveguides as well as on the reconstruction of hard obstacles in homogeneous wave guides. Inverse problems for non-homogeneous acoustic and elastic waveguides are studied with new imaging functionals such as quantum fidelity and Loschmidt echo, by exploiting aspects of chaotic ray dynamics.

Sea-bed identification: The group’s activities include the development of inversion methods using either local reflections from the sea-bed or measurements of the sound field at long range. Inversion procedures based on optimization schemes have been developed. The group is using the tank facility of the hydroacoustics laboratory to perform experiments associated with local reflection problems and validate relative inversion schemes. The group has participated in the design and analysis of sea experiments aiming at the classification of the sea-bed in the Haro Strait (Canada), the Central Atlantic Ocean and the Edukki lake in India.

Underwater acoustic signal processing, detection and localization: Underwater acoustic propagation modelling is combined with statistical signal processing, detection and estimation theory for the analysis of underwater acoustic surveillance (SONAR) systems, active (monostatic and multistatic) and passive (broadband and LOFAR). Further, new methods for statistical characterization of underwater acoustic signals are developed as a means towards the development of enhanced tomographic and geoacoustic surveillance methods. Methods for the localization of sound sources from their acoustic field using ray- and wave-theoretic propagation modeling are developed based on matched-field processing.

Marine bioacoustics: The group’s activity in ocean bioacoustics began in 2001(collaboration with PELAGOS Cetacean Research Institute), focusing on sounds by marine mammals, sperm whales and Cuvier's beaked whales, in particular. The group uses its expertise on underwater acoustics to develop methods and tools for the analysis and characterization of cetacean sounds as well as for passive localization of vocalizing animals. It has also participated in projects involving experiments in fish tanks to record, identify and analyze sounds produced from commercially interesting fish species, such as Sparus Aurata and Dicentrarchus Labrax.

Ambient noise: The group is active in the modelling of shipping noise since the late 1980s. An operational system has been developed at IACM for real-time shipping noise prediction in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea using real-time AIS data and wave propagation modeling (http://www.iacm.forth.gr/shipnoise/). Further autonomous noise recorders have been developed that can be used for monitoring in the framework of the MSFD (EU Marine strategy framework directive. Further, the group works on the spatial coherence of ambient noise field, in connection with passive tomography relying on cross-correlation of the noise field at different locations and the emergence of the Green’s function.

Hydroacoustics laboratory: Established in 2000 it provides experimental support to the wave propagation group and also expands the activities of the institute in the field of applications and services. It includes an indoor facility (experimental tank) whereas it also has a capacity for acoustic measurements at sea. The laboratory activities include conduction of scaled ocean acoustic propagation experiments, measurement of reflection coefficients, calibration of acoustic transducers, non- destructive testing of materials, as well as outdoor measurements, including localization experiments, measurements of acoustic signatures and bioacoustic measurements in the audible and ultrasound regime.

Seismic wave propagation - seismological station: The study of elastic and seismic waves are among the research interests of the group. Crete is an area of high seismic risk and monitoring its seismic activity is of vital importance. A seismological station was established in 2009 at FORTH for continuous monitoring of the seismicity in the area of Heraklion. The station is linked to the Hellenic Seismological Broadband Network of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA_HL). Statistical and probability based seismic signal characterization methods have been developed for the analysis of seismic records.

Software products: The ocean acoustic propagation and inversion codes developed by the group are integrated in user-friendly software environments. These environments are integrated in the sense that they provide a broad range of tools and data for properly defining and efficiently solving problems in underwater acoustics. The group has been developing integrated software products for applications such as sonar performance prediction, tomographic analysis, and operational passive acoustic localization, as well as for educational purposes.

International conferences: The group has been organizing major international conferences in underwater acoustics, among others the European Conference on Underwater Acoustics in 1996, the International Conference on Underwater Acoustic Measurements in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, the International Conference on Theoretical and Computational Acoustics in 2007, the International Conference on Underwater Acoustics in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019, the EuroNoise 2018.

Education and Training: The group contributes to the education and training of undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students as well as of PhD candidates and Postdoctoral researchers in the area of underwater acoustics and wave propagation. The group further develops educational software for interactive learning in these areas.

Wave Propagation

Underwater acoustics with applications in oceanography and geophysics.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

A. ONGOING PROJECTS

GREEN: Green’s function emergence through cross-correlation of shipping noise, US-ONR, 2018-19.
QUIETMED: Joint programme on noise for the implementation of the second cycle of the MSFD in the Mediterranean Sea, EU, 2017-18
PERAN: Innovative Actions in Environmental Research and Development, GSRT, 2017-20.
E-RIHS: The European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science, EU, 2017-2020

B. COMPLETED PROJECTS

PHASE-FS: Behavior and sensitivity of phase arrival times in the Fram-Strait area, US-ONR, 2016-17.
PHASE-2: Phase behavior and implications for travel-time observables (), US-ONR, 2014-15.
SEA-EARS: Passive acoustic localization in the sea based on multipath (SEA-EARS), GSRT– Excellence-II Grants, 2014-15
EDELWEIS-14: Experiment for passive acoustic detection and localization of whales in the Ionian Sea, Ocean Care – CH, 2014.
PEFYKA: Environment and natural hazards: New methods for monitoring and study of the ocean environment - GSRT– KRIPIS, 2013-15.
PHASE: Behavior and sensitivity of phase arrival times, US-ONR, 2013-14.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2018-now
- E.K. Skarsoulis, G. Piperakis, M. Kalogerakis, E. Orfanakis, P. Papadakis, S.E. Dosso, A. Frantzis. Underwater Acoustic Pulsed Source Localization with a Pair of Hydrophones, Remote Sens. 2018, 10, 883 (2018).
- P. Papadakis, G. Piperakis, E. Skarsoulis, E. Orfanakis and M. Taroudakis Pilot experiments for monitoring ambient noise in Northern Crete, in Proceedings of Euronoise 2018, M. Taroudakis (Ed.), Crete, May 27-31, 2018 (pp 2811-2815), ISSN: 2226-5147
2015-2017
- Taroudakis M., Smaragdakis C. and Chapman N.R.: “De-noising procedures for inverting underwater acoustic signals in applications of acoustical oceanography” J. Comp. Acous. Vol. 25, 1750015 https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218396X17500151 (2017).
- P. Papadakis, G.S Piperakis, E.K. Skarsoulis, E. Orfanakis and M. Taroudakis Development and Testing of Low-Cost Autonomous Underwater Acoustic Recorders, In proceedings of the 4th Underwater Acoustics Conference and Exhibition (UACE2017), pp. 627-634, (2017).
- E. Skarsoulis, G. Piperakis, E. Orfanakis, P. Papadakis, M. Taroudakis, Modelling of underwater noise due to ship traffic in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Proc. 4th International Conference on Underwater Acoustics, pp. 889-896, Skiathos, 2017.
- M.A. Kalogerakis, E.K. Skarsoulis, On the design of digital game-based learning environments for education of the general public on focused scientific topics with an application to underwater acoustics, in Interactivity, Game Creation, Design, Learning, and Innovation, Proc. 6th International Conference, ArtsIT 2017, and Second International Conference, DLI 2017, Heraklion 2017, A. Brooks et al. (Eds.), pp. 324-336, Springer, 2018.
- Taroudakis M.: “Acoustic methods for sea-bed reconstruction” in Proceedings of the Tecniacustica 2017. Keynote Presentation. A Coruña, Spain (2017).
- H. Sagen, B.D. Dushaw, E.K. Skarsoulis, D. Dumont, M.A. Dzieciuch, A. Beszczynska-Moeller, Time series of temperature in Fram Strait determined from the 2008–2009 DAMOCLES acoustic tomography measurements and an ocean model, Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, Vol. 121, pp. 4601–4617, 2016.
- E.K. Skarsoulis, G.S. Piperakis, E. Orfanakis, P. Papadakis, Prediction of shipping noise in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Proc. Internoise 2016, pp. 329-336, Hamburg, 2016.
- P. Papadakis and G.S Piperakis, Inverse methods for estimation of geoacoustic characteristics from sound reflections, Proc. Hellenic Acoustics Conf., Athens, pp 284-291, 2016 (in Greek)
- P. Papadakis, G.S Piperakis, E.K. Skarsoulis, and E. Orfanakis, An autonomous underwater acoustic recorder, Proc. Hellenic Acoustics Conf., Athens, pp 276-2283, 2016 (in Greek)
- Smaragdakis C. and Taroudakis M.: “Hidden Markov Models feature extraction for inverting underwater acoustic signals using wavelet packet coefficients” in Proceedings Euroregio 2016, Porto (2016).
- Taroudakis M. and Smaragdakis C.: “Ocean acoustic tomography using a three-phased probabilistic model-based inversion scheme” in Proceedings of the ICA 2016, Buenos Aires (2016).
- Taroudaki V., Smaragdakis C. and Taroudakis M.: “Deblurring acoustic signals for statistical characterization in applications of ocean acoustic tomography” in Proc. Mtgs. Acoust. 29, 005001 doi: 10.1121/2.0000497 (2016).
- Mikhalevsky P.N., Sagen H., P.F. Worcester, A.B. Baggeroer, J. Orcutt, S.E. Moore. C.M. Lee, K.J. Vigness-Raposa, L. Freitag, M. Arrott, K. Atakan, A. Beszczynska-Moeller, T.F. Duda, B.D. Dushaw, J.-C. Gascard, A.N. Gavrilov, H. Keers, A.K. Morozov, W.H. Munk, M. Rixen, S. Sandven, E. Skarsoulis, K.M. Stafford, F. Vernon, M.Y. Yuen, Multipurpose acoustic networks in the integrated Arctic Ocean observing system, Arctic, Vol. 68 Suppl., pp. 1-17, 2015
- Papadakis P.I., Piperakis G.S., Kalogerakis M.A., Reflection of a plane wave from a two-layered seafloor with non-parallel interface between the layers, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 137, 1001 (2015).
- Skarsoulis E.K., Dosso S.E., Linearized two-hydrophone localization of a pulsed acoustic source in the presence of refraction: Theory and simulations, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 138, pp. 2221–2234, 2015.
- Taroudakis M.: Towards a silent marine environment: The role of passive acoustic observatories, Rivista Italiana di Acustica, Vol. 39, N. 2, pp. 51-62 (2015).
- S. Kouzoupis, P. Papadakis, D. Sfakianakis, M. Kentouri , P. Divanach, I. Xezonakis, Fish tank research facility for sound-video recording and sound emission experiments, Proc. 3rd International Conference on Underwater Acoustics, pp. 333- 340, Platanias, 2015.
- E. Skarsoulis, P. Papadakis, M. Kalogerakis, G. Piperakis, E. Orfanakis, A passive acoustic localization system for broadband sources, Proc. 3rd International Conference on Underwater Acoustics, pp. 341-348, Platanias, 2015.
- Taroudakis M.I. and Mastrokalos J.K.: “An approximate technique for estimating eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the acoustic field in shallow water over an elastic sea-bed” in Proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics, Vol 37, Pt1, pp. 127-134 (2015).
- Taroudakis M and Smaragdakis C.: “De-noising procedures for inverting underwater acoustic signals in applications of acoustical oceanography” in Proceedings Euronoise 2015, pp 1393-1395 Maastricht. (2015).
up to 2014
- Dobrokhotov S.Yu, Makrakis G.N. and Nazaiksinskii,V.E., 2014, Maslov’s Canonical Operator, Hörmander’s Formula, and Localization of Berry–Balazs’ Solution in the Theory of Wave Beams, Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, Vol. 180, No. 3, pp. 162-182.
- G.N. Makrakis, Transmutation of non local boundary conditions in ocean acoustics, Applicable Analysis, Vol. 93, No. 6, pp.1319-1326, 2014
- Papadakis P.I. and Piperakis G.S., 2014, Localization Experiments with two Different Configurations in an Artificial Water Depository, Acoustics in Practice, Vol2, No. 2, pp. 29-36 (2014).
- Taroudakis M.I., Smaragdakis C. and Chapman, N.R., 2014, Inversion of acoustical data from the `Shallow Water 06' experiment, using a statistical method for signal characterization Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Vol. 136 pp. EL336-EL342.
- E. Skarsoulis, B. Cornuelle, M. Dzieciuch, Travel-time sensitivity kernels in a shallow-water environment, Proc. 2nd International Conference on Underwater Acoustics, pp. 683-690, Rhodes, 2014.
- Smaragdakis C. and Taroudakis M., 2014, Characterization of underwater acoustic signals, using a bio-mathematical model of the psycho-acoustic mechanisms of Humpback whales. in Proceedings of “Acoustics 2014” pp.413-419 (2014).
- Taroudakis M. and Mastrokalos J., 2014, A study on seismic noise propagation in underwater environment, in Proceedings of “Acoustics 2014” pp.403-410 (2014) in Greek.
- Taroudakis M. and Smaragdakis C., 2014, A hybrid approach for ocean acoustic tomography based on statistical characterization of the acoustic signal and the identification of modal arrivals, Proc. 2nd International Conference on Underwater Acoustics, pp. 691-698, Rhodes, 2014.
- Taroudakis M. and Smaragdakis C., 2014, A hybrid approach for ocean acoustic tomography in range dependent environments based on statistical characterization of the acoustic signal and the identification of modal arrivals in Proceedings of FORUM ACUSTICUM 2014 (CD edition), Kakow, Poland, (2014).
- Taroudakis M., A Νx2D model for calculating the propagation of sound signals in 3-D oceanic environments, in Proceedings of “Acoustics 2014” pp.285-292 (2014) in Greek.
- Dzieciuch M.A., Cornuelle B.D., Skarsoulis E.K., Structure and stability of wave-theoretic kernels in the ocean, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 134, pp. 3201-3210, 2013.
- Skarsoulis E.K., Cornuelle B.D., Dzieciuch M.A., Long-range asymptotic behavior of vertical travel-time sensitivity kernels, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 134, pp. 3318-3331, 2013.
- Apostolopoulos, M.I., Taroudakis, M.I. and Papazoglou, D.G. "Application of inverse Abel techniques in in-line holographic microscopy" Optics Communications Vol. 296, pp 25-34 (2013).
- S. Yu. Dobrokhotov, G. N. Makrakis, V. E. Nazaikinskii and T. Ya. Tudorovskii, New formulas for Maslov’s canonical operator in a neighborhood of focal points and caustics in 2D semiclassical asymptotics, Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, Vol. 177, No. 3, pp. 1579-1605, 2013.
- Papadakis P., S. Kouzoupis , G. Piperakis, On The Generation Of Short Ultrasonic Pulses In Medium Size Tanks. Proc. 1st International Conference on Underwater Acoustics, pp. 943-950, Corfu, 2013.
- E. Skarsoulis, B. Cornuelle, M. Dzieciuch, Sensitivity behavior of phase and peak arrival times, Proc. 1st International Conference on Underwater Acoustics, pp. 1221-1228, Corfu, 2013.
- Taroudakis M.: Monitoring the sea environment using acoustics: The role of Acoustical Observatories, in Tecniacustica 2013. Official Publication, pp. 24-32 (2013). Keynote presentation in Tecniacustica 2013, Valladolid, Spain 2013.

PEOPLE

RESEARCHERS

Michael Kalogerakis, Collaborating Researcher
Spyros Kouzoupis, Collaborating Researcher
George Makrakis, Collaborating Researcher
John Papadakis, Founding/former Director of IACM (1985-2004)
Panagiotis Papadakis, Senior Scientist
Emmanuel Skarsoulis, Research Director
Michael Taroudakis, Collaborating Researcher

TECHNICAL SCIENTISTS

Piperakis George, Technical Scientist
Orfanakis Emmanuel, Collaborating Technical Scientist

CONTACT US

For any information regarding the Group, please contact:

Wave Propagation Group
Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics
Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas
Nikolaou Plastira 100, Vassilika Vouton,
GR 700 13 Heraklion, Crete
GREECE

Tel: +30 2810 391800
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Mrs. Maria Papadaki)

Tel.: +30 2810 391805
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Mrs. Yiota Rigopoulou)

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