Monmouth University Research Vessel to Map Shark River Bottom
June 12, 2009 by admin
Filed under Belmar Updates, Boating News
In a few weeks you’ll see this research vessel on the Shark River, methodically plying its way back and forth in a pattern that will ultimately cover the entire estuary. Then one day later this year you’ll be able to sign on to Google Earth, zoom down to the Shark River and peer underneath the water and see a contour map of the river’s bottom. You’ll even be able to see where Shark River’s clam beds are located.
The research vessel is named the R/V Seahawk, in honor of Monmouth University’s Hawk mascot. The Seahawk is operated under the auspices of the University’s Urban Coast Institute (UCI), and works closely with the University’s program in Marine and Environmental Biology. The UCI was formed in 2005 as one of the University’s "Centers of Distinction," with the mission of supporting collaborative programs focused on sustaining the quality of New Jersey’s coastline. The UCI is a very visible example of the broad academic vision of Monmouth University’s President, Paul G. Gaffney, II, a retired Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy, where he was the commander of the Navy Meteorology and Oceanography Command and the Chief of Naval Research. He was also a presidential appointee to United States Commission on Ocean Policy. The UCI purchased the Seahawk with a grant from the National Oceanagraphic and Aeronoautic Administration (NOAA).
The Seahawk is outfitted with sensitive side-scan sonar equipment and some extremely powerful computer hardware and software from SWATHplus Sonars, a division of SEA (Group) Ltd. The SWATHplus system enables the Sea Hawk to perform sophisticated, and highly accurate, bathymetric surveys of the river bottom. 
Belmar Mayor Ken Pringle got a tour of the Seahawk and a demonstration of its capabilities when it was in Belmar back in March, during the commissioning of its sonar rig and software. The mayor’s host on the tour was Tony MacDonald, the UCI’s Executive Director. (Mayor Pringle sits on the UCI’s Advisory Committee). At the helm was the captain of the Seahawk, Jim Nickels, UCI’s resident marine scientist. Also along was Paul Byham , a consultant for SEA (Group) Ltd, the manufacturer of the SWATHplus system. Paul flew over from his home in Bath, UK to install and commission the system and train Jim Nickels and some Monmouth University students on how to use it.
As Jim Nickels slowly piloted the Seahawk between and among the slips in the Belmar marina, Paul Byham demonstrated how the bathymetric surveying program works. (Paul Byham is an expert in the use of sidescan sonar for bathymetric surveying, and has co-authored articles about the subject and how it the process works). The computer screen displayed an instantaneous visual image as the side-scanning sonar transponder did its job, gathering data that enabled the computer to calculate and graphically depict depths across a broad swath of the bottom, 100 feet or more on either side of the boat’s path — including areas under the docks — with a degree of accuracy in the range of a matter of inches.
As the bottom contour appeared on a computer screen, items of debris and shoaling spots could easily be seen on the bottom, Byham explained that this was only the "rough" data. Later, this data would be downloaded to onshore computers, which with some human help, will scrub the data to eliminate artifacts caused by sound shadows and "smoothe" the data so that it can be presented visually in a variety ways and from different perspectives. Global positioning system ("GPS") locations are plotted simultaneously as the sonar data is recorded, enabling the survey data to be seamlessly stitched together. Data obtained from different directions can be overlaid precisely and digitally integrated , forming a comprehensive detailed map of the bottom. This same GPS data will enable the finished survey to be synchronized with government and other publicly available GIS map data, and even uploaded and made part of Google Earth’s data set.
The sonar also has the ability to penetrate the mud and distinguish between different types of bottom consistencies, and can even detect and delineate shellfish beds. Nickels explained that the software doesn’t know what a shellfish bed looks like, but rather assigns the same category designation (e.g., Category 12 bottom) to each data grouping showing similar characteristics. Later, Nickels explained, he and Monmouth University students will go out and take samples from varying locations, in order to identify the distinguishing characteristics (e.g., Category 12 = clam bed) and will then update the survey map to accurately identify each unique area based on the results of their field work.
Even in its rough form, the flexibility of the data is pretty amazing. Traditional bathymetric survey maps are totally two-dimensional, showing depths every so many feet (the more frequent the readings, the more expensive the survey) on a paper survey map, with perhaps contour lines that give a general sense of the contour. With a few clicks of the mouse on either side of channel, Byham was able in seconds to show cut-away views of a channel in any given place, and could quickly identify areas where shoaling has occurred.
When the processing of the data is completed and uploaded to Google Earth, anyone will be able to "travel under" the Shark River, and get an accurate, albeit simulated view of the contours of Shark River’s channels and bottom.
Stay tuned for more updates this summer as Monmouth University and the R/V Seahawk goes to work mapping the bottom of the Shark River.
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