The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.
Gerry Hatcher
Ocean Engineer with the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Science and Products
SQUID-5 camera system
The SQUID-5 is a Structure-from-Motion Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras.
PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.
PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFac.
BOB Sled
Benthic OBservation camera Sled, or “BOB Sled,” is and underwater video camera system that can operate to depths of 700 meters.
Mini BOB Sled
Mini Benthic OBservation camera Sled, or “Mini BOB Sled,” is and underwater video tow fish that can operate to depths of 75 meters.
R/V Sallenger Tows SQUID-5 for 3D Seafloor Mapping
The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.
R/V Sallenger tows SQUID-5 near Looe Key
The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.
The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
The challenge:
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
The challenge:
SQUID-5 Towed Surface Vehicle
Diagram of the SQUID-5 towed surface vehicle and the waterproof camera housings with labeled components. The camera mounting mechanism aligns the camera axially with the dome and allows the camera to be adjusted fore and aft to accommodate various lens types and enable alignment with the glass port radius of curvature for minimal distortion.
Diagram of the SQUID-5 towed surface vehicle and the waterproof camera housings with labeled components. The camera mounting mechanism aligns the camera axially with the dome and allows the camera to be adjusted fore and aft to accommodate various lens types and enable alignment with the glass port radius of curvature for minimal distortion.
Hatching an Engineer
What does it take to become an ocean engineer? Here is the path that USGS Gerry Hatcher took.
What does it take to become an ocean engineer? Here is the path that USGS Gerry Hatcher took.
Piston core deployment
Jenny White and Pete Dal Ferro, engineering technicians from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California, deploy a piston core from the stern of Research Vessel Sharp.
Jenny White and Pete Dal Ferro, engineering technicians from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California, deploy a piston core from the stern of Research Vessel Sharp.
BOBSled suspended by its tow cable
BOBSled suspended by its tow cable. The tow cable has one single-mode fiber-optic line for video transmission, eight conductors for system power and control, a Kevlar layer for strength, and a urethane jacket for abrasion resistance and water exclusion.
BOBSled suspended by its tow cable. The tow cable has one single-mode fiber-optic line for video transmission, eight conductors for system power and control, a Kevlar layer for strength, and a urethane jacket for abrasion resistance and water exclusion.
BOBSled with its major components labeled
BOBSled with its major components labeled. The system collects high-definition (HD) video images of seafloor as deep as 100 meters and is easily hand deployed from a small boat. The video imagery is viewed and recorded in real time at the surface.
BOBSled with its major components labeled. The system collects high-definition (HD) video images of seafloor as deep as 100 meters and is easily hand deployed from a small boat. The video imagery is viewed and recorded in real time at the surface.
Elwha River rocks
Screen capture of a video collected March 8, 2013, on the west side of the Elwha River delta in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. Seafloor is about 30 meters (100 feet) deep. This area has strong currents and a lot of material (suspended sediment) in the water. Two red laser dots near the bottom of the video are 10 centimeters (nearly 4 inches) apart.
Screen capture of a video collected March 8, 2013, on the west side of the Elwha River delta in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. Seafloor is about 30 meters (100 feet) deep. This area has strong currents and a lot of material (suspended sediment) in the water. Two red laser dots near the bottom of the video are 10 centimeters (nearly 4 inches) apart.
Sea turtle off Olowalu on northwest side of Maui
Snapshot from a video collected February 12, 2013, off the Olowalu area on the northwest side of the Hawaiian island of Maui. Seafloor is about 10 meters (30 feet) deep. This setting provides an example of extremely clear tropical water and ambient light. The sea turtle's shell is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) long.
Snapshot from a video collected February 12, 2013, off the Olowalu area on the northwest side of the Hawaiian island of Maui. Seafloor is about 10 meters (30 feet) deep. This setting provides an example of extremely clear tropical water and ambient light. The sea turtle's shell is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) long.
Science and Products
SQUID-5 camera system
The SQUID-5 is a Structure-from-Motion Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras.
PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.
PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFac.
BOB Sled
Benthic OBservation camera Sled, or “BOB Sled,” is and underwater video camera system that can operate to depths of 700 meters.
Mini BOB Sled
Mini Benthic OBservation camera Sled, or “Mini BOB Sled,” is and underwater video tow fish that can operate to depths of 75 meters.
R/V Sallenger Tows SQUID-5 for 3D Seafloor Mapping
The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.
The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.
R/V Sallenger tows SQUID-5 near Looe Key
The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.
The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
The challenge:
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
The challenge:
SQUID-5 Towed Surface Vehicle
Diagram of the SQUID-5 towed surface vehicle and the waterproof camera housings with labeled components. The camera mounting mechanism aligns the camera axially with the dome and allows the camera to be adjusted fore and aft to accommodate various lens types and enable alignment with the glass port radius of curvature for minimal distortion.
Diagram of the SQUID-5 towed surface vehicle and the waterproof camera housings with labeled components. The camera mounting mechanism aligns the camera axially with the dome and allows the camera to be adjusted fore and aft to accommodate various lens types and enable alignment with the glass port radius of curvature for minimal distortion.
Hatching an Engineer
What does it take to become an ocean engineer? Here is the path that USGS Gerry Hatcher took.
What does it take to become an ocean engineer? Here is the path that USGS Gerry Hatcher took.
Piston core deployment
Jenny White and Pete Dal Ferro, engineering technicians from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California, deploy a piston core from the stern of Research Vessel Sharp.
Jenny White and Pete Dal Ferro, engineering technicians from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California, deploy a piston core from the stern of Research Vessel Sharp.
BOBSled suspended by its tow cable
BOBSled suspended by its tow cable. The tow cable has one single-mode fiber-optic line for video transmission, eight conductors for system power and control, a Kevlar layer for strength, and a urethane jacket for abrasion resistance and water exclusion.
BOBSled suspended by its tow cable. The tow cable has one single-mode fiber-optic line for video transmission, eight conductors for system power and control, a Kevlar layer for strength, and a urethane jacket for abrasion resistance and water exclusion.
BOBSled with its major components labeled
BOBSled with its major components labeled. The system collects high-definition (HD) video images of seafloor as deep as 100 meters and is easily hand deployed from a small boat. The video imagery is viewed and recorded in real time at the surface.
BOBSled with its major components labeled. The system collects high-definition (HD) video images of seafloor as deep as 100 meters and is easily hand deployed from a small boat. The video imagery is viewed and recorded in real time at the surface.
Elwha River rocks
Screen capture of a video collected March 8, 2013, on the west side of the Elwha River delta in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. Seafloor is about 30 meters (100 feet) deep. This area has strong currents and a lot of material (suspended sediment) in the water. Two red laser dots near the bottom of the video are 10 centimeters (nearly 4 inches) apart.
Screen capture of a video collected March 8, 2013, on the west side of the Elwha River delta in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. Seafloor is about 30 meters (100 feet) deep. This area has strong currents and a lot of material (suspended sediment) in the water. Two red laser dots near the bottom of the video are 10 centimeters (nearly 4 inches) apart.
Sea turtle off Olowalu on northwest side of Maui
Snapshot from a video collected February 12, 2013, off the Olowalu area on the northwest side of the Hawaiian island of Maui. Seafloor is about 10 meters (30 feet) deep. This setting provides an example of extremely clear tropical water and ambient light. The sea turtle's shell is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) long.
Snapshot from a video collected February 12, 2013, off the Olowalu area on the northwest side of the Hawaiian island of Maui. Seafloor is about 10 meters (30 feet) deep. This setting provides an example of extremely clear tropical water and ambient light. The sea turtle's shell is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) long.