Marine scientists at the University of South Florida began their first field mission this week to test a novel method for mapping shallow coastal areas, which are the most vulnerable to coastal changes and storm occurrences but are the most difficult to scan.
An unmanned surface vessel (USV), laser-based sensors mounted on an airplane, and satellite-derived data are all being used to build high-resolution maps of these coastal areas.
It may be easier to get to coastal areas, but large ships have depth limitations and may be less nimble than smaller craft, says Steve Murawski, the director of the Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT) at the USF College of Marine Science (USF CMS) that is leading the mission in partnership with NOAA and two private companies. Florida, the nation, and the world are counting on Murawski and his team to find the optimal combination of agile technologies for scanning shallow and complex areas. It is what we are focusing on first and foremost.”
Tampa Bay and Gulf of Mexico have a wide range of variables, including depth, water clarity, boat traffic, and habitat types. This makes the area a good testing ground for new technologies. After leading the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster study effort for a decade, Murawski says that his new findings can be applied to other coastal locations around Florida and beyond.
We must build a coastal infrastructure that can withstand storm surges and increasing sea levels while also protecting our important natural resources and other assets, according to Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls. As an advocate for coastal mapping research and innovation, I am pleased that USF and its collaborators are responding to the call for action.
Our nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is still unmapped to the tune of more than half of its total area.
“NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey’s chief scientist, Neil Weston, says COMIT and its collaborators have made a substantial advancement in USV technology with this mission. When innovative technology techniques might improve our national goals such as shallow water mapping, coastal resilience and emergency response, we are particularly interested in these field trials.””
SeaTrac, a Massachusetts-based company, developed the 16-foot-long USV using solar panels. Once a mission is programmed and remotely controlled from shore, the boat is autonomous and can go off on its own. An accompanying “chase boat” keeps a close eye on the USV as it makes its way along the track, traveling at a speed of 3–5 knots, much like a lawnmower on the water. Students from Eckerd College and the University of South Florida will alternate shifts on the pursuit boat to keep an eye out for marine creatures and other potential risks. The route of the USV can be quickly altered if necessary.
According to Hobie Boeschenstein, director of business development and operations manager for SeaTrac, they are eager to explore how their platform may be used in the wider seabed survey toolbox to map in shallow coastal areas more efficiently and effectively. This is our first voyage with USF, and we are looking forward to learning a lot.”
In early January 2022, Fugro, a global business that has created a lightweight survey technique known as a Rapid Airborne Multibeam Mapping System, will supplement SeaTrac’s operations (RAMMS). A total of 90 square miles will be surveyed in the Gulf of Mexico, primarily between John’s Pass and Anna Maria Island.
We built RAMMS specifically to meet this need—to deliver efficient, high accuracy nearshore and coastal mapping data that meet the needs of multiple stakeholders, from nautical charting to marine and coastal engineering, and coastal zone management,” said Mark MacDonald, Hydrography Director for Fugro Americas. With this data, we are eager to see how COMIT can more effectively map our coastal habitats,” the COMIT team says.
According to Murawski, the sensors utilized by the surface vessel and the plane have varying resolutions and performance under various situations of water clarity and more.
Additionally, the COMIT team plans to test sensors installed on drones and robotic gliders in future flights.
Layered survey infographic with nested nesting and labeling
As the dean of the USF CMS, Tom Frazer has a long history of leadership in coastal resiliency, “and it is thrilling to watch our portfolio of action-based research grow in a way that will benefit the state of Florida and beyond,” he says.
Florida’s state-funded Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research & Innovation was recently established at the CMS, which will serve the state of Florida and leverage the broad range of expertise that exists in academia, government, and the commercial sector to accomplish its purpose. USF St. Petersburg is also home to a new Center of Excellence in Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences, which intends to position the university as a hub of innovation around the blue-green economy, sustainability, and coastal resiliency.
According to Frazer, “This mission is a great example of the kind of innovation that you can expect from USF in the future.”
