1 | 6/8/2012

Parameter Measurement of Acoustic Propagation

in The Shallow Water Environment

Tri Budi Santoso
1)
, Endang Widjiati
2)
, Wirawan, Gamantyo Hendrantoro
3)
1)
Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya,
2)
Laboratorium Hidrodinamika Indonesia,
3)
Jurusan Teknik Elektro ITS
tribudi@eepis-its.edu



AbstractThis paper present a measurement report of
underwater acoustic propagation parameter such as ambient
noise, attenuation, time delay, multipath, and power delay
profile. Measurement have carried out in a water tank with
dimension of 12 x 180 meters, and 6 meters deep.
By using the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE)
technique was obtained that the channel has an ambient noise
with a gaussian distribution, and spectral shapes are dominant at
low frequencies.
The multipath channel was characterized by the power
delay profile and fading. The power delay profile 32 ms
happened when the distance between transmitter and receiver
was 80 m, and 22 ms when the distance transmitter and receiver
was 150 m. The fading phenomenon was characterized by
fluactuation of the signal envelope attenuation from -40 dB to
10 dB.
Key words; acoustic propagation, multipath, power delay
spread

I. INTRODUCTION
Indonesia is an archipelago comprising of 17,508
islands, with a long coastline approximately of 81.000
km, and 70% of the region is oceans. Indonesia lies
between the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Alpide belt.
This causes the marine environment in Indonesia to
haveown characteristics with various speeds and direction
of the wind, sea waves, and bathymetry. It is a challenge
to conduct research and develop underwater
communication technology to support underwater
acoustic sensor network development.
In the implementation, underwater acoustic
communication system have to face with the worst
channel condition, namely large delay spread, Doppler
effect due to relative motion between transmitter and
receiver, and limited bandwidth[1], [2].
Most research on underwater acoustic communication
was done through simulation. The cost for measurement
testing is relatively expensive, so that data processing is
ussualy performed off line by using from the recording
from measurement. Some experimental measurement is
performed with the addition of ambient acoustic noise,
enabling 'replayed' experiments at various values of
signal-to-noise ratio in the laboratory [3].
Characterization of underwater acoustic propagation
with a statistical approach to the data have been presented
in [4], [5], and [6]. By using the result of propagation
parameter measurements made at high frequency, a
statistical analysis can be carrierd out. Underwater
acoustic channel characterizations for an environment
with a high activity, by using acoustic signals at
frequencies above 20 kHz has also been carried out [7].
Observations were made at very shallow water
conditions, at a depth of 3 meters from the surface, with
two different transmitter-receiver distance of 200 meters
and 500 meters. Characteristics of the channel impulse
response, scattering, intensity profiles were presented to
track multiple operating frequencies from 20 kHz to 100
kHz.
This paper presents a propagation parameter
measurements of underwater acoustic signals based on
the measurement data that has been done in a towing
tank. Analysis method used is a combination of [4] [5],
[6], and [7], with an approach to the statistical properties
of the measurement data have been obtained.
The paper is organized as follows.The concept of
multipath channel propagation is outline in section 2, and
the experimental set up are described in section 3. Section
4 devoted to statistical analysis of measurement result.
Section 5 summarizes the conclusion.

II. MULTPATH CHANNEL
In general, the concept of underwater multipath
channel has the same basic characteristics with the radio
channel. It can be approached by adopting the concept of
multipath channel in the radio.
Signal propagation from transmitter to the receiver can
take a variety of path, the receiver will obtained a various
signal with the different time and magnitude. The signal
path can be a line of sight (LOS), the reflected signal from
surface, and the reflected signal from the bottom as shown
in Figure 1.

Bottom
Surface
Signal
Source (Tx)
Signal
Receiver
(Rx)
Figure 1. Underwater multipath channel.

Multipath channel has a different attenuation factor
and time delay. This gives the effect on the amplitude and
CITEE 2012 Yogyakarta, 12 July 2012 ISSN: 2088-6578
DEEIT, UGM IEEE Comp. Soc. Ind. Chapter 231
2 | 6/8/2012

time of arrival of signals at the receiver. If the signal from
the transmitter as a complex form s(t) = R[e
j2tfct
], the
bandpass signal at the receiver can be represented as:

( ) ( ) ( ) t t s t
n n
t o

(1)

Where o
n
(t) and
n
(t) are the attenuation factor and the
time delay of the n
th
path The low-pass equivalent
channel can be described as a time varying channel
impulse response as follows:

( ) ( )

=
n
t t f
n
n c
e t t c
) ( 2
;
t t
o t (2)
When c(;t) is modelled as a complex Gaussian with zero
mean, the envelope of |c(;t)| at a time t will has a
Rayleigh distribution This condition occurs in the
propagation channel without line-of-sight (LOS) path.
When the signal propagation has a LOS path, c(;t) is
modelled as a complex Gaussian with no zero mean, the
propagation channel expressed as Ricean distribution
Multipath intensity profile or power delay profile
presents the average power output as function of time as
folows:
( ) ( )
}
+

~
2
2
2
,
1
T
t
T
t
ds s r
T
P t t (3)
Parameters associated with power delay profile are the
mean excess delay, RMS delay spread, and excess delay
spread. Mean excess delay is the first moment of the
power delay profile:

( )
( )

=
k
k
k
k k
P
P
t
t t
t

(4)
RMS delay spread is the square root of the second
moment of delay profile, and is defined as

( )
2
2
t t o
t
=
(5)


where

( )
( )

=
k
k
k
k k
P
P
t
t t
t
2
2

Maximum excess delay (X dB) is the multipath delay
time, where the energy of input signal at the receiver is
smaller than 20dB.

III. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
Parameter measurements of underwater acoustic
propagation in this study are based on the method in
paper [3], [4] and [5]. Initial experiments have been
performed on laboratory-scale towing tank.
A series of measurements have been carried out in a
concrete towing tank, with dimensions (3 x 12) m with a
depth of 6 m. The second measurement run at the bigger
towing tank, with dimensions (12 x 200) m. These
measurements were carried out with uniform medium
conditions, no waves, and no sources of transient noise.


Figure 2. Measurement activity in Laboratorium
Hidrodinamika Indonesia (LHI)
A. Ambent Noise Measurement
Ambient noise measurements carried out by recording
noise coming from the environment, with a minimum
activity to avoid unwanted noise. Recording was
performed for 30 seconds, the data obtained from three
hydrophones.
B. Reference Signal Measurement
Reference signal measurement was carried out with
placing the source (underwater speaker) and the receiver
(hydrophone) within 1 m. The generated sound are: pulse
train with 1 second between pulse, chirp signal with
frequency sweep from 100 Hz to 17000 Hz, in 17 sec
duration, and a sinusoid signal with frequencies (8000,
9000, 10000, ... 17000) H, in 5 sec durations. The chirp
signal was used in the experiment as in the following
equation:
x(t) = Acos(2f(t)t + ) (6)
The output of chirp signal as in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Spectrogram of the chirp signal
C. Measurement at 80 ~ 180 Meters
Measurement started at a distance of 80 m, 100 m,
120 m, and 150 m by using the same signal as used in the
ISSN: 2088-6578 Yogyakarta, 12 July 2012 CITEE 2012
232 DEEIT, UGM IEEE Comp. Soc. Ind. Chapter
3 | 6/8/2012

measurement of the reference signals. Set up the
measurement equipment as shown in Figure 4.
The noise signals generated in the PC-1, transmitted
through an underwater speaker at a point 3 m from the
surface. The position of the receiver within 80 ~ 150 m
from transmitter (underwater speaker). The receiver using
a vertical array of three hydrophones with 50 cm between
hydrophones.


Speaker
H4
H3
H2
H1
0
.5
m
Bottom
3
m
3
m
2
m
2
.5
m
100 m
Power Amp
Dig Mixer
Signal
Generator
Signal
Recorder
Surface
Figure 4. Experimental Setup

IV. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
A. Ambient Noise Characteristics
Frequency noise characteristics was not flat. Noise
tends to be dominant in the low frequency region, less
than 10 kHz, while for frequencies above 10 kHz have a
flat distribution as in Figure 5.
0 5 10 15 20
-170
-160
-150
-140
-130
-120
-110
-100
-90
Frequency (kHz)
P
o
w
e
r
/
f
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y

(
d
B
/
H
z
)
Periodogram Power Spectral Density Estimate

Figure 5. Power spectral density (psd) of ambient noise

Analysis of measurement data with maximum
likelihood estimation (MLE) illustrated that the
environmental noise signals close to the nature of
Gaussian distributed random signal with zero mean and
0.028 variant. Comparison of probability density function
(pdf), data measurements and pdf Gaussian noise
environment as in Figure 6.

A. Channel Impuls Response
By using equation (3), the channel impulse response
can be obtained by testing with a narrow pulse signal
duration. The testing process has been conducted on
various transmitter-receiver distance. Power signal at the
receiver within 80 m from the transmitter as in Figure 7.
-0.01 -0.008 -0.006 -0.004 -0.002 0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01
0
0.002
0.004
0.006
0.008
0.01
0.012
0.014
0.016
0.018
0.02
Pdf Ambient Noise
Value
P
r
o
b
.

d
e
n
s
it
y


Meas. Data
Gaussian

Figure 6. Probability density function of ambient noise
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
-20
-18
-16
-14
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
waktu mdt
P
o
w
e
r

R
e
la
t
if

d
B

Figure 7. Power delay profile at the receiver

One method for testing the channel impulse response
can be done using the Chirp signal has a frequency range
from 200 Hz to 17 000 Hz. In Figure 8 show a signal for
the transmit side lobe contained in the stretch position
and -300 ms + 300 ms.
-500 -400 -300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
Time (ms)
M
a
g
n
it
u
d
e

(
d
B
)
Auto Correlation

Figure 8. Autokorelation of Chirp Signal Reference
CITEE 2012 Yogyakarta, 12 July 2012 ISSN: 2088-6578
DEEIT, UGM IEEE Comp. Soc. Ind. Chapter 233
4 | 6/8/2012

The testing process was continued with the delivery of
the Chirp signal transmitter-receiver distance of 80 m,
100 m, up to 150 m. Form of the correlation signal at the
receiver berkjarak 150 m from the reference signal as
shown in Figure 9.
-500 -400 -300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
Time (ms)
M
a
g
n
it
u
d
e

(
d
B
)
Cross Correlation
Figure 9. Correlation of chirp signal at 150 m receiver

By using a horizontal line parallel with the magnitude
value of -20 dB is obtained at the time spread of -100 to
100 m sec. From the result calculation is indicated that
the length of maximum excess delay of 10 ms. Data
power delay profile parameter measurements for
transmitter-receiver distances range are 80 m to 150 m as
in Table 1.

TABLE 1. POWER DELAY PROFILE
Tx-Rx (m)
distance
Mean
Excess
Delay
RMS Delay
Spread
Excess Delay
Spread
80 0.9288 0.0072 0.0325
100 0.9929 0.0066 0.0291
120 0.9276 0.0052 0.0263
150 0.2295 0.0066 0.0220

B. Fading Characteristics
Envelope signal with a frequency of 4000 Hz with a
working distance between the transmitter and receiver
within 120 m as in Figure 11, the signal attenuation from
10 dB to -50 dB.
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
x 10
4
-70
-60
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
Pelemahan pada jarak 200 m
Sampel
P
e
le
m
a
h
a
n

(
d
B
)

Figure 10. Envelope fading
V. CONCLUSION
This paper has presented an underwater acoustic
channel characterization using measurement data in the
towing tank measuring 12 x 200 x 6 meters at a stationary
condition. The results of statistical analysis using
maximum likelihood estimation technique suggests that
the channel has an ambient noise has a Gaussian
distribution, the attenuation due to multipath Ricean
distribution is close to the form, and the maximum excess
delay of 20 milliseconds.
In the next study will be developed on the coastal
environment in Surabaya to obtain more accurate results
about the characteristics of the underwater acoustic
channel for tropical marine environment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work was supported by BPPS grant fiscal year 2011.
We would thank to Laboratorium Hidrodinamika
Indonesia (LHI), which has given support to carry out the
measurements, so the research could proceed smoothly.

REFERENCES
[1] Milica Stojanovic, Underwater Acoustic Communications:
Design Considerations on the Physical Layer, Proc. of Wireless
on Demand Systems and Services 2008, WONS 2008.
[2] Milica Stojanovic, James Priesig, Underwater Acoustic
Communication Channels: Propagation Models and Statistical
Characterization, IEEE Communciation Magazine, January 2009.
[3] Andrew C. Singer, Jill K. Nelson, and Suleyman S. Kozat, Signal
Processing for Underwater Acoustic Communications, IEEE
Communications Magazine, January 2009.
[4] Parastoo Qarabaqi, Milica Stojanovic, Statistical Modeling of a
Shallow Water Acoustic Communication Channel, Proc. of
Underwater Acoustic Measurements Conference, Nafplion,
Greece, June 2009.
[5] Andreja Radosevic, John G Proakis, Milica Stojanovic, Statistical
Characterization and Capacity of Shallow Water Acoustic
Channels, Proc. of IEEE OCEANS09 Conference, Bremen,
Germany, May 2009.
[6] Mandar Citre, John Potter, and Ong Sm Hang, Underwater
Acoustic Channel Characterization for Medium-Range Shallow
Water Communications, OCEANS 04.
[7] Brian Borowski, Characterization of a Very Shallow Water
Acoustic Communication Channels, Proc. of OCEANS09,
MTS/IEEE Biloxy-Marine Technology for Our Future: Global and
Local Chalenges.
[8] John G Proakis, Digital Communication, 3-rd Edition, Prentice
Hall, Singapore, 1996.





ISSN: 2088-6578 Yogyakarta, 12 July 2012 CITEE 2012
234 DEEIT, UGM IEEE Comp. Soc. Ind. Chapter