ROV Supports Diving Deacons
Professor of biology Miles Silman and undergraduate student Max Messinger are producing an unmanned submarine, also known as an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), for use in the study of aquatic ecology and oceanography. The ROV is a small, low-cost, and easy to operate tool which can be used to study the underwater environment in places where first-person observation is either difficult or dangerous. The ROV can dive to depths in excess of 300 feet, operate in total darkness, function in extremely cold water and can do so for up to 2 hours at a time, all while transmitting live video to the surface.
The design of the ROV is from OpenROV, a free and open-source project founded with the goal of providing researchers and laypeople with a low-cost ROV solution. The plans are openly available online, which allows individuals to modify the plans as necessary to cater the equipment to their needs. In addition to its camera and lights, the ROV can be equipped with a variety of additional equipment capable of taking water samples, testing water quality, collecting wildlife, and collecting sediment samples. These additions make the ROV a robust tool for studying a variety of aquatic habitats.
The ROV’s first deployment will be at Lighthouse Reef, an atoll off the coast of Belize and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, over spring break. This trip will provide an opportunity to study a wide variety of aquatic environments including mangrove forests, the shallow reef lagoon, the reef surrounding the atoll, and the infamous Great Blue Hole. The Great Blue Hole is a 407-foot deep sinkhole in the reef. Jacques Cousteau was the first to reach the bottom of the hole in 1971, diving in dangerous conditions using advanced equipment and techniques. The ROV will explore the depths of the blue hole making visual observations as well as collecting data about the water column and sediments. This information will provide valuable insight into the nature of this unique marine environment.
After exploring Lighthouse Reef, the ROV will continue to be used to further research on the forefront of conservation science. With global climate change threatening to fundamentally change our world’s oceans through coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and sea level rise, the study of coral reefs, near-shore environments, and open-ocean has never been more important. With the ability to observe our oceans in greater detail, we are able to learn more about how our oceans work and make better, more-informed decisions about how to protect our environment.
By Max Messinger, WFU Class of 2013