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Title: Optical Delineation of Benthic Habitat Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Abstract

To improve understanding and characterization of coastal regions, there has been an increasing emphasis on autonomous systems that can sample the ocean on relevant scales. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with active propulsion are especially well suited for studies of the coastal ocean because they are able to provide systematic and near-synoptic spatial observations. With this capability, science users are beginning to integrate sensor suits for a broad range of specific and often novel applications. Here, the relatively mature Remote Environmental Monitoring Units (REMUS) AUV system is configured with multi-spectral radiometers to delineate benthic habitat in Sequim Bay, WA. The vehicle was deployed in a grid pattern along 5 km of coastline in depths from 30 to less than 2 meters. Similar to satellite and/or aerial remote sensing, the bandwidth ratios from the downward looking radiance sensor and upward looking irradiance sensor were used to identify beds of eelgrass on sub-meter scales. Strong correlations were found between the optical reflectance signals and the geo-referenced in situ data collected with underwater video within the grid. Results demonstrate the ability of AUVs to map littoral habitats at high resolution and highlight the overall utility of the REMUS vehicle for nearshore oceanography.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
919697
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-52129
400403309; TRN: US200822%%296
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Field Robotics, 24(6):461-471
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 24; Journal Issue: 6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; COASTAL REGIONS; HABITAT; MONITORING; OCEANOGRAPHY; RADIOMETERS; SEQUIM BAY; SUBMARINES; BENTHOS; MAPPING

Citation Formats

Moline, Mark A, Woodruff, Dana L, and Evans, Nathan R. Optical Delineation of Benthic Habitat Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1002/rob.20176.
Moline, Mark A, Woodruff, Dana L, & Evans, Nathan R. Optical Delineation of Benthic Habitat Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/rob.20176
Moline, Mark A, Woodruff, Dana L, and Evans, Nathan R. 2007. "Optical Delineation of Benthic Habitat Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/rob.20176.
@article{osti_919697,
title = {Optical Delineation of Benthic Habitat Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle},
author = {Moline, Mark A and Woodruff, Dana L and Evans, Nathan R},
abstractNote = {To improve understanding and characterization of coastal regions, there has been an increasing emphasis on autonomous systems that can sample the ocean on relevant scales. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with active propulsion are especially well suited for studies of the coastal ocean because they are able to provide systematic and near-synoptic spatial observations. With this capability, science users are beginning to integrate sensor suits for a broad range of specific and often novel applications. Here, the relatively mature Remote Environmental Monitoring Units (REMUS) AUV system is configured with multi-spectral radiometers to delineate benthic habitat in Sequim Bay, WA. The vehicle was deployed in a grid pattern along 5 km of coastline in depths from 30 to less than 2 meters. Similar to satellite and/or aerial remote sensing, the bandwidth ratios from the downward looking radiance sensor and upward looking irradiance sensor were used to identify beds of eelgrass on sub-meter scales. Strong correlations were found between the optical reflectance signals and the geo-referenced in situ data collected with underwater video within the grid. Results demonstrate the ability of AUVs to map littoral habitats at high resolution and highlight the overall utility of the REMUS vehicle for nearshore oceanography.},
doi = {10.1002/rob.20176},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/919697}, journal = {Journal of Field Robotics, 24(6):461-471},
number = 6,
volume = 24,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}