Classification and structural complexity of marine substrates across spatial scales in Hawaii using next-generation autonomous mapping vehicles
Abstract
Much of the seafloor has only been mapped at very coarse resolution from satellite altimetry models with less than a quarter of theworld#s oceans mapped at kilometer scale resolutions, which has limited our assessments of marine hazards, ocean circulation models, seafloor infrastructure, and marine conservation. This project aims to advance high resolution seafloor mapping while quantifying geological and ecological drivers of seafloor structural complexity at varying spatial scales across a depth gradient in Hawai#i. All data will be collected by the Remotely Operated Vehicle Hercules as part of the Exploration Vessel Nautilus #Ocean Exploration through Advanced Imaging# research cruise, which aims to test several new technologies capable of very high precision seafloor mapping with rapid automatic image categorization. During the Hercules surveys, data will be continuously recorded for seawater depth, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. Rapid Automatic Image ClassificationSoftware will be used to automatically classify objects recorded by video cameras continuously recording during the Hercules surveys. Additionally, wide-angle stereo-cameras will be recording the seafloor from multiple angles, which will be post-processed using three dimensional photogrammetry to reconstruct high-precision seafloor maps along the Hercules surveys. These highly detailed benthic maps will be evaluated for structural complexity acrossmultiple spatial scales using virtual profile gauge tools. The environmental data will be combined with the image classification and seafloor structural complexity data to develop predictive models for how biogenically derived structural complexity varies across a depth gradient in Hawai#i to better understand the potential drivers of small-scale seafloor bathymetry as part of the testing of advanced imaging and seafloor mapping missions of the Nautilus research cruise. This project would directly advance the goals of theOcean Engineering and Marine Systems program through participating in field testing and the development of analytical pipelines to process data outputs from next-generation uncrewed autonomous vehicles. The proposed work in this project aims to improve detection of marine substrates through classifying objects from images that can be used to advance automated marine substrate classification using the latest advances in Rapid Automatic Image Classification Software, which could be widely applied to identify objects in or around the seafloor. The proposed research will also provide direct support and training for a graduate student at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez to participate in the data collection on board the research cruise while developing models to analyze that datafor their master#s thesis research and submission for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Through advancing methods for high precision seafloor mapping using a remotely operated vehicle and automated data analysis workflows, this project will advance high-precision seafloor mapping across spatial scales to improve our capacity to better map and understand the seafloor.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 11, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312743
Entities
People
- Travis Courtney
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Puerto Rico