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Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Active

By Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center July 12, 2016

Scientists are using the Ecomapper Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to collect imagery, bathymetry, and basic water-quality parameters. The Ecomapper provides a innovative visualization of data.

Scientists are using the Ecomapper to collect side-scan sonar imagery and bathymetry at Rough River Lake and Nolin River Lake along the primary transects (25 meter transect spacing with 18 transects per site) along with basic water-quality parameters. The Ecomapper will be operated in an undulating survey mode to yield 3-D water-quality data maps for improved visualization of the data. This data is being collected as part of the research to identify potential Indicators of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).

Water Quality Parameters Collected at Nolin Lake

  • water temperature
  • dissioved oxygen
  • specific conductance
  • turbidity
  • pH
  • blue-green algae
Ecomapper typical survey method
Ecomapper with explanations of data types

Ecomapper Capabilities

  • Mapping both the water column and bed
  • Operating without human interaction
  • Operating in hazardous conditions
  • Providing an integrated, geospatially-referenced data set
  • Saving significant person-hours in the field

Benefits of AUVs 

  • Identify key sampling locations
  • Reveal mixing processes
  • Evaluate restoration efforts
  • Allow rapid responses

Below are publications associated with this project.

Integrated synoptic surveys of the hydrodynamics and water-quality distributions in two Lake Michigan rivermouth mixing zones using an autonomous underwater vehicle and a manned boat

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries, launched a pilot project in 2010 to determine the value of integrated synoptic surveys of rivermouths using autonomous underwater vehicle technology in response to a call for rivermouth research, which includes study domains that envelop both the fluvial and lacustrine bo
Authors
P. Ryan Jackson, Paul C. Reneau
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Integrated synoptic surveys using an autonomous underwater vehicle and manned boats

Traditional surface-water surveys are being combined with autonomous technology to produce integrated surveys of bathymetry, water quality, and velocity in inland lakes and reservoirs. This new technology provides valuable, high-resolution, integrated data that allow a systems-based approach to understanding common environmental problems. This fact sheet presents several example applications of in
Authors
P. Ryan Jackson
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Louisville