Joint initiative advances seafloor mapping off Tampa Bay
The Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT) at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science has joined forces with Chance Maritime Technologies to gather seafloor data at three newly established calibration sites just off the coast of Tampa Bay.
Using sonar to collect backscatter data – which captures how strongly the seafloor reflects sound waves – researchers gain more than just depth readings. This type of data reveals valuable clues about the composition and texture of the seabed, helping to inform habitat studies, identify physical hazards and support smarter environmental management. But for backscatter data to be truly useful across different surveys, vessels and time periods, consistency is key. That is where calibration sites come in. These reference areas make it possible to align results from various sonar systems, ensuring that seafloor maps can be reliably compared and combined – no matter who collects the data or when.
“The goal is to provide a multibeam backscatter calibration site for NOAA Office of Coast Survey, academic and industry partners in the vicinity of Tampa Bay,” said Stephan O’Brien, senior research associate at COMIT.
Traditional data collection offshore requires large, expensive boats to spend days, weeks or sometimes months driving back and forth across the seafloor. To make this work more efficient, Chance Maritime created new self-driving boat technology resulting in its LR30, a nine-metre-long uncrewed boat to quickly collect data at sea.
Two types of sonar
To complete the survey, two different types of sonar were used, multibeam and split beam. The multibeam sonar transmits a fan of acoustic pulses towards the seafloor to give a highly detailed depth map. The split-beam sonar is commonly used for fisheries assessments and focuses more on what is in the water column, such as schools of fish. Both systems were able to be mounted simultaneously on the LR30, allowing the survey to be completed quickly and without having to return to port to be reconfigured.
The COMIT and Chance Maritime teams set up a remote operations centre at COMIT’s facility in St. Petersburg to operate the ocean drone and its sensors. Students and faculty from COMIT operated the sonars, while operators from Chance Maritime piloted the LR30.
The collaboration between COMIT and Chance Maritime to use ocean drones for backscatter data collection pushes the needle forward on more safe and efficient methods for ocean data acquisition. COMIT’s backscatter calibration sites will ensure that seafloor data collected for years to come will be more accurate and comparable. This ultimately enables stakeholders to make informed policies on how ocean resources can be preserved and used for generations.
