{"id":15503,"date":"2017-03-28T23:38:41","date_gmt":"2017-03-28T23:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/?page_id=15503"},"modified":"2019-09-20T11:06:49","modified_gmt":"2019-09-20T02:06:49","slug":"underwater-technology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/research\/imagery-technology\/underwater-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Underwater Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css=”.vc_custom_1491340559305{padding-top: 50px !important;background-color: #e2d62d !important;}”][vc_column][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”Technology Menu” el_class=”extra”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#ffffff” css=”.vc_custom_1494909861264{padding-top: 75px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]CRRF uses a variety of new underwater technology tools to assist with our work.\u00a0 Mixed gas breathers allow for deep depths and longer bottom times, not to mention the lack of bubbles that typically scare fish.\u00a0 Photography and video are important, both for documenting species and environments.\u00a0 We also assist with a wide variety of autonomous underwater vehicles used to gather data autonomously.\u00a0 And of course submersibles are everyone’s dream. \u00a0We have been extremely lucky to have used several in the deep and unknown waters of Palau. \u00a0All of these tools provide unique bits of information to further our understanding of the oceans around Palau.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”two_columns” switch_to_one_column=”1000″][qode_elements_holder_item item_padding=”20px 9% 30px 9%” advanced_animations=”no”][vc_single_image image=”15753″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1491176500169{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

DIVING TECHNOLOGY<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”1″ up=”15″ down=”0″][vc_column_text]Closed-circuit rebreathers have been an important tool in our work. Pat Colin was inspired to build his own after the success of the Electrolung designed by Walter Starck II in the late 1960s. Pat used his first full electronic rebreather in 1979, and later developed a follow on unit, called the Science Lung II, which was used for many deep collection dives in Palau to as much as 150 m depth. \u00a0Steve Lindfield has been a part of the first generation of scientific divers to use the reliable commercially available mixed gas rebreathers in coral reef research, having done cutting edge studies<\/a>\u00a0of the benefits of using such silent-no bubble diving gear in coral reef fish research.\u00a0 As they are now a proven technology in deep diving research (~150 m depth), studies of diver disturbance of marine life are an important issue.[\/vc_column_text][\/qode_elements_holder_item][qode_elements_holder_item item_padding=”0px 0px 0px 0px” advanced_animations=”no”][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”16763,16764,16765″ img_size=”full”][\/qode_elements_holder_item][\/qode_elements_holder][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#ffffff” css=”.vc_custom_1494803756797{padding-top: 100px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”15753″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1491176500169{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1494891164924{padding-bottom: 100px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Camera Systems<\/h3>\n

Light cameras and other imaging system are important tools in CRRFs research.\u00a0 Standard SLR cameras for still or video images, usually with electronic strobes, are used for wide angle (eg. habitat shots) to macro (eg. species portraits) work. In 2003 CRRF switched from film to digital cameras, with a massive increase in the ability to record data. Pat made a series of PVC underwater camera and strobe housings –\u00a0 great for use in remote areas that could be repaired with PVC glue!\u00a0 This basic housing was designed for use to 120 m depths, and if need be, made a pretty good hammer for knocking some recalcitrant stony sponge loose for collection.\u00a0 For the NCI collection program, we photographed every species sampled, ideally in situ<\/em> underwater, to provide a visual record of what the sample looked like and aid in species identification, resulting in over 100,000 film and digital photos from the program.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” el_id=”img-gallery” el_class=”h-gallery”][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”16766,16767,16818,16769,16770″ img_size=”full” column_number=”5″ grayscale=”no” images_space=”gallery_without_space”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#39a694″ css=”.vc_custom_1494890273920{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”15753″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1495764258710{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Deepwater Cameras<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”yellow-link-teal-bg”]When using the Deepworker 2000 submersibles for NCI collections in 2000 & 2008 we were faced with a general lack of affordable, reliable external cameras with strobe that could survive to depths of ~600 m. Pat ended up making his own housings for digital SLR cameras. The housing were machined from aluminum with a remotely mounted strobe. A lead from inside the submersible was used to trigger the cameras and a laser pointer provided an aiming capability. The camera was rigidly mounted to the sub and the entire vehicle was maneuvered to line up the camera pointer with the subject. In the early years of digital, subs usually had an external video camera with fairly low resolution mounted on a pan and tilt system that was used for general recording of activities, but was not adequate for the detailed specimen photos.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”two_columns” switch_to_one_column=”1000″][qode_elements_holder_item item_padding=”20px 9% 30px 9%” advanced_animations=”no”][vc_single_image image=”15753″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1491176500169{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

The age of Go Pros<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”1″ up=”15″ down=”0″][vc_column_text]Go Pro cameras were a dream come true for underwater science. A simple still camera system for underwater time-lapse photography opened up infinite possibilities for documenting research. Working with our colleagues from Scripps Institution of Oceanography we put together time lapse GoPro systems that could take a photograph every minute for up to 11 days using a very large memory card and external battery pack. These have since been used to document fish spawning aggregations, mantas, dugongs and jellyfish, among a myriad of other uses.[\/vc_column_text][\/qode_elements_holder_item][qode_elements_holder_item item_padding=”0px 0px 0px 0px” advanced_animations=”no”][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”16869,16870,16871,16872,16873,16874,16875,16876,16877″ img_size=”full”][\/qode_elements_holder_item][\/qode_elements_holder][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#ffffff”][vc_column][qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”two_columns” switch_to_one_column=”1000″][qode_elements_holder_item item_padding=”0px 0px 0px 0px” advanced_animations=”no”][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”16772,16213,16211,16212,16214,16217,16215,16219,16218″ img_size=”full”][\/qode_elements_holder_item][qode_elements_holder_item item_padding=”20px 9% 30px 9%” advanced_animations=”no”][vc_single_image image=”15753″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1491176500169{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Stereo Video<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”1″ up=”15″ down=”0″][vc_column_text]Steve Lindfield is an expert<\/a> in the use of 3D underwater video systems for measurement of fish sizes on diving transects, as well as recording market catch data using similar above water systems. Steve has also been a leader in using BRUVs (Baited Remote Underwater Video) in looking at populations of sharks and other large reef fishes, often in deep water below normal diving depths.\u00a0 BRUVs are a system that \u00a0is dropped to the bottom and left unattended for a sample duration, thus avoiding influence from diver’s presence on the fishes attracted.[\/vc_column_text][\/qode_elements_holder_item][\/qode_elements_holder][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#39a694″ css=”.vc_custom_1494891323807{padding-top: 100px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”16814″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”15753″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1495764267001{margin-bottom: 25px !important;padding-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1568945204912{padding-bottom: 100px !important;}” el_class=”yellow-link-teal-bg”]<\/p>\n

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV’s)<\/span><\/h3>\n

In collaboration with our colleagues from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of Delaware, we have facilitated the use of many state of the art autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV’s) in Palau. The Spray gliders<\/a> are a remarkable tool for studying ocean currents and have been used with great success in Palau’s ocean waters since 2009.\u00a0 They gather current speed & direction, and physical information, such as temperature and salinity, from the surface to 1,000 m depth.\u00a0 Gliders use buoyancy to make them go up and down, with wings and fins to control their track through the water.\u00a0 They can relay this information to a shore base after making dives to several hundred meters, and stay at sea for several months.\u00a0 Gliders are largely autonomous except for communicating via satellite links with controllers on shore stations.<\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast, the REMUS 100 (Remote Environmental Monitoring UnitS) is a propeller-driven powered AUV that can work down to 100 m depth.\u00a0 It uses acoustic navigation to independently survey and can carry multiple sensor packages, such as side scan sonar, conductivity, temperature and light sensors and a series of Go Pro cameras to view up to 360o<\/sup>. REMUS’s have been used in Palau to discover new types of deep mesophotic reefs within the Palau lagoon, image fish in spawning aggregations and jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other AUV’s briefly used in Palau have been the Slocum glider, Liquid Robotics wave glider and an autonomous kayak as a platform for instruments.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” el_id=”img-gallery” el_class=”h-gallery”][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”16779,16780,16781,16778″ img_size=”full” column_number=”4″ grayscale=”no” images_space=”gallery_without_space”][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”16776,16775,16774,16816″ img_size=”full” column_number=”4″ grayscale=”no” images_space=”gallery_without_space”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css=”.vc_custom_1494909838762{padding-top: 75px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”15753″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1491176500169{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1494909830944{padding-bottom: 75px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Submersibles<\/h3>\n

In 2001 CRRF chartered a one-person Deepworker 2000 submersible from Nuytco Research and brought it to Palau to make deep water NCI collections between 90 and 360 m depth.\u00a0 Four CRRF staff (Pat Colin, Lori Colin, Mike Dawson and Laura Martin) trained as Deepworker pilots, making a total of 44 dives over 6 weeks collecting over 300 samples.\u00a0 The Deepworker 2000 is a remarkable scientific tool that has not been fully utilized for this purpose.\u00a0 It is nimble and a good collection platform with a suitable manipulator and catch basket, and feels as close to scuba diving as any of us would likely get below 90 m.
\nCRRF has also used a few “subs of opportunity” that have passed through Palau.\u00a0 These include the Deep Rover and Triton subs on board the M\/V Alucia and the remarkable 10 passenger sub carried on board the M\/V Octopus.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” el_id=”img-gallery” el_class=”h-gallery”][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”16792,16791,16793″ img_size=”full” column_number=”3″ grayscale=”no” images_space=”gallery_without_space”][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”16787,16788,16789,16790″ img_size=”full” column_number=”4″ grayscale=”no” images_space=”gallery_without_space”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css=”.vc_custom_1491340559305{padding-top: 50px !important;background-color: #e2d62d !important;}”][vc_column][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”Technology Menu” el_class=”extra”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” background_color=”#ffffff” css=”.vc_custom_1494909861264{padding-top: 75px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]CRRF uses a variety of new underwater technology tools to assist with our work.\u00a0 Mixed gas breathers…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":15799,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full_width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15503"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15503"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15503\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coralreefpalau.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}