Characterization of Benthic Habitats using 3D Laser Scanning Technology

底栖生物环境监测对于从管理的角度描述生境和多样性至关重要，并用于评估区域的重要性（多样性或功能）或监测人为和自然活动对海洋环境的潜在影响。收集高质量的数据对于决策和效率是必要的，当在环境框架内实施时，低成本的技术对行业也很重要。通常情况下，海洋海底评估是使用遥控潜水器（ROV）和落体摄像机进行的，在深水区域和硬基材上进行成像。这两种技术都是基于相机成像的，价格昂贵，并且根据光照和深度有很大的分辨率范围。视野、相机方向和地理定位也可能是这些仪器的问题，并导致一些不确定性。Kraken机器人系统公司（“Kraken”）是一家工程公司，正在开发新技术，以提高海底成像的分辨率，结合各种传感器、激光、视频成像和多波束。获得的分辨率令人印象深刻，Kraken的目标是利用他们的SeaVision来评估他们的成像系统对底栖生物栖息地特征的潜力。本项目的目的是基于对现有Kraken数据集的分析，评估各种参数的识别，如物种多样性、丰度和底栖生物栖息地特征的基质类型。分析的结果将用于测试其在环境监测框架内的应用。使用来自几种类型环境的一种或多种技术收集图像的数据分析将用于定义底栖生物评估技术的潜力。项目期间的一些机会性采样也将有助于更好地了解该技术及其在监测生物数据方面的应用。该项目将增加Kraken评估环境监测新市场的潜力，并将在全球推广其新技术。它还将为水产养殖业提供一套更好的数据，可用于现场管理和监测效果。

Benthic environmental monitoring is essential to characterize habitat and diversity into a managementperspective and, is used to evaluate significance of areas (diversity or functional) or to monitor potential impactof anthropogenic and natural activities in the marine environment. Collecting high quality data is necessary fordecision-making and efficiency-low cost of the technology is also important for the industry when implementedwithin an environmental framework. Typically, marine seafloor assessments are performed using a RemotelyOperated Vehicle (ROV) and a drop camera, imaging over deep areas and over hard substrates. Bothtechniques are camera imaging based, expensive and have a wide range of resolution depending on lighting anddepth. Field of view, camera orientation and geolocalization can also be an issue with those instruments andlead to some incertitude. Kraken Robotic Systems Inc. ("Kraken") is an engineering company that isdeveloping new technology to increase the resolution of seafloor imaging combining various sensors, laser,video imaging and multibeam. The resolution obtained is impressive and Kraken aims to evaluate the potentialfor their imaging system for benthic habitat characterization using their SeaVision. The purpose of this projectis to assess the identification of various parameters such as species diversity, abundance, and substrate typeused for benthic habitat characterization based on analysis of existing Kraken's datasets. The results of thatanalysis will then be used for testing its application within an environmental monitoring framework. The dataanalysis of collected images using one or multiple technologies from several types of environment will be usedto define the potential of the technology for benthic assessments. Some opportunistic sampling during theproject will also allow to better understand the technology and its application for monitoring of biological data.This project will increase the potential for Kraken to assess a new market in environmental monitoring and willpromote its new technology worldwide. It will also offer to the aquaculture industry a better set of data that canbe used for site managing and monitoring effects.