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USGS Vessel Used to Test Counter-Terrorism Surveillance Equipment By Jennifer Leigh Oates October 2004 in this issue:  previous story | next story Scientists from the University of South Florida (USF)'s Center for Ocean Technology (COT) recently demonstrated equipment for underwater counter-terrorism surveillance to U.S. Coast Guard observers in New Orleans. The equipment provides constant underwater surveillance with real-time video and three-dimensional sonar along piers, ship's hulls, and seawalls. Captain Richard Young of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies in St. Petersburg, FL, accompanied the scientists aboard the USGS research vessel G.K. Gilbert during the July 29 demonstration in Tampa Bay. Images of an object (in photograph, top) produced from data collected simultaneously with the Dual frequency IDentification SONar (DIDSON; image at lower left) and the Laser Line Scanner (lower right). The two types of data are gathered with a single pass. An interesting summary of DIDSON can be viewed on the DIDSON Summary Web page. Images provided by USF COT. Left: The research vessel G.K. Gilbert is used for diving, buoy servicing, data calibration, coring, sidescan-sonar and archeological surveys, remotely-operated-vehicle (ROV) deployment, red-tide tracking, fisheries science, at-sea education, and aquifer, mine, and spring research. Photograph provided by Richard Young. "What comes back to us is not just a picture, but a continuous 3-D image we can rotate and view from any angle," said Larry Langebrake, COT's director. The system also provides high-resolution three-dimensional color images of what it scans, and a georeferencing system allows analysts to pinpoint the location of objects. The technology, developed with a grant from the Office of Naval Research, is extremely useful in helping port security officials to monitor underwater environments for suspicious objects and changes. The system can scan and image 3,000 ft of seawall in 10 minutes. For more information about COT, visit the COT Web page. Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) USF Center for Ocean Technology University of South Florida (USF) in this issue:  previous story | next story

October 2004 Mailing List: Sign up to receive monthly email updates: print this issue in this issue: cover story: Images and Information About Recent Hurricanes Drilling Monitoring Wells in the Dry Tortugas American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs Seepage Samplers in Ashumet Pond Wastewater - A Potential Threat to Florida Keys Gulf of Mexico Vulnerable to Hurricanes USGS Pacific Science Center Open House Exhibit Designers Interested in Hurricane Research USGS Hosts Science-Learning Session Shore and Beach Preservation Conference Deep Water Coral Research Workshop Jim Estes Wins Shoemaker Award Four Publications Win Shoemaker Awards Gene Shin Wins Shifting Baselines Contest NMSF Regional Office Moving to St. Petersburg, FL Elena Nilsen Joins Coastal and Marine Geology Team USGS Vessel To Test Counter-Terrorism Equipment Dave Reid Wins Triathlon Southern Sea Otter Video Online Human Influence on San Francisco Bay Floor U.S. Coastal Cliffs October Publications List

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