Synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) is an advanced sonar imaging technique that combines the data from successive pings as the sonar platform moves along a predefined path, effectively synthesizing a much larger sonar array than physically present. This synthetic array allows for significantly improved along-track resolution, independent of range, producing highly detailed two- and three-dimensional representations of underwater environments. The method draws conceptual parallels to synthetic aperture radar (SAR), but is optimized for acoustic propagation through water.
Unlike conventional systems such as side-scan sonar or multibeam sonar, which suffer from decreasing resolution with distance, SAS maintains a consistently high resolution across a wide swath. This is particularly advantageous for applications that require precision and clarity, such as mine detection, subsea infrastructure inspection, and seafloor mapping.