"The goal of the proposed research project is the development of a robust image enhancing tool, which will significantly improve underwater imagery for construction of high-resolution ocean-floor photo-mosaics. Image degradation issues due to strong light scattering present a great challenge for underwater imaging and existing image processing methods cannot provide a real solution for these problems. However, recent studies in the research field of applied polarization optics have shown that measuring the complete polarization state of light coming from a scene can be useful for the recovery of images heavily affected by light scattering. This measurement technique that was originally inspired from biology is called imaging polarimetry, which is an efficient way of acquiring spatially detailed polarization information about a scene. The primary objective of this research project is to apply precision imaging polarimetry for image recovery in underwater photography as a methodological framework integrated into the underwater image mosaicing process. It is aimed to (1) develop and properly adapt the technique of polarimetric image acquisition for the underwater environment, (2) incorporate this technique into the visual system of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) built by the Computer Vision and Robotics Group (VICOROB) at the University of Girona and (3) integrate polarization data assessment algorithms into the image enhancement and image mosaicing process. The proposed research will significantly improve the efficiency of environmental monitoring on marine habitats and will stimulate technological advancement of underwater vehicles used in industrial applications."