Kurzmeldung_Schweden

Space technology for the ocean – Innovative 3D image processing software is tested in a Swedish fjord

MARUM scientists undertook a research cruise in Swedish waters to test modern marine technologies. They were on board the research vessel SKAGERAK of the Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences, Sweden.

The researchers first headed to the Koljoefjord, which is located on the southwestern coast of Sweden. At this location the University of Gothenburg is operating an underwater observatory in a cooperative project with MARUM. The second stop was in the neighboring Gulmarfjord, where an imaging system used for quantitative optical surveys on planetary rovers was tested. Video footage was acquired in water depths up to 40 m using the underwater robot MARUM-CHEROKEE as a platform for a calibrated camera system.

"We are looking for new technical challenges for our system, in this case the stereo camera instrument," says Dr. Nicolas Nowald, coordinator of CHEROKEE ROV field operations, "to ensure sustainability and the ability to respond to future scientific needs in ocean research in a flexible way." Stereo cameras for underwater applications have been around for quite a while. However, in this case a particular method was tested that allows for a 3D geo-referenced, topographic survey of underwater structures. The scope of potential applications is broad, ranging from size determination of fish species to monitoring the mechanical integrity of underwater facilities.

The experiment is part of the EU project PROVISG (www.provisg.eu), where MARUM, in cooperation with the German space agency DLR, Institute of Space Systems in Bremen, is contributing their considerable experience in ocean technology in order to open up new application areas for innovative imaging-processing methods.

Contact person:
Dr. Christoph Waldmann, MARUM