Cross-center team testing seafloor structure-from-motion technology in Tampa Bay

By Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program May 18, 2022

Scientists, engineers, and staff from the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) are at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center this week assisting SPCMSC scientists with testing and preparing the SQUID-5, or Structure-from-motion (SfM) Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras, for summer field work to collect high resolution, 3D seafloor elevation data.

USGS PISCES (Processes Impacting Seafloor Change and Ecosystem Services) Project Activities

A collection of equipment is mounted on yellow catamaran in the bay. In the background: a pier & skyline with tall buildings — The SQUID-5, or Structure-from-motion (SfM) Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras test in Tampa Bay. Developed by USGS scientists and engineers, SQUID-5 is towed behind a boat to capture overlapping high-resolution images of the seafloor with accurate GPS locations which are converted into high-resolution, 3-dimensional models of seafloor structures. Visible in the background are the iconic St. Pete Pier and the historic Vinoy Hotel. This test run was conducted in preparation for field work being done in the Florida Keys to measure seafloor erosion and inform stakeholders conducting coral reef restoration.

PCMSC staff Jonathan Warrick and Gerry Hatcher are visiting St. Petersburg this week working alongside SPCMSC staff Dave Zawada, Selena Johnson, Christine Kranenburg, Mitch Lemon, and Andy Farmer to test and prep SQUID-5 prior to data collection at Looe Key Reef in the lower Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary planned for July 2022. So far, the team has upgraded components in SQUID-5, tested the cameras with a new calibration target, and conducted field deployments in Tampa Bay. They also trained SPCMSC staff on preparation and operation of SQUID-5. Lastly, the team had an ad-hoc mini-workshop to refine data processing techniques, coordinate SQUID-5 and diver-based SfM acquisition plans to optimize data collection for the July field work, and begin developing co-registration methods and other data analysis techniques.

To produce accurate models of underwater habitats, the USGS created the SQUID-5 or Structure-from-motion (SfM) Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras. SQUID-5 is towed behind a boat to capture overlapping high-resolution images of the seafloor with accurate GPS locations which are converted into high-resolution, 3-dimensional models of seafloor structures. The team uses the models to predict which areas of the coastline are at risk from the combined hazards of seafloor erosion and sea-level rise. With protective reefs eroding away due to ocean acidification and coral diseases, along with sea levels rising at the same time, more coastal communities are at greater risk of flooding, especially when extreme storms threaten the coast. These data are also translated to stakeholder tools and shared with partners such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to inform decisions on where coral reef restoration efforts may be most effective to both increase ecosystem coverage and mitigate the effects of coastal hazards.