UNCLASSIFIED Estimating turbidity and suspended sediment concentrations using an unmanned surface vehicle Justin Wilkens*, Andrew McQueen, and Burton Suedel Research Biologist Environmental Laboratory U.S. Army Engineering Research and Development Center WEDA DREDGING SUMMIT & EXPO June 4-7, 2019 UNCLASSIFIED DISCOVER | DEVELOP | DELIVER File Name UNCLASSIFIED Why use an unmanned surface vehicle (USV)? Potential for USVs to perform routine monitoring and survey missions autonomously Potential to reduce equipment procurement and operating costs while maintaining capability levels and in some cases increasing them The purchase and deployment of USVs within the USACE is growing. US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Introduction Inland and intracoastal waterways, and coastal channels occur in relatively shallow waters. US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Introduction Monitoring US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Study Goal What are the characteristics of using a USV to measure water quality in shallow water? 1) Measure influence of vessel wake on re-suspension of sediments 2) Measure relationship between vessel type and sediment disturbances 3) Application for dredge plume monitoring US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Study Area US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED meet MARV Twin hull boat, 256 Propulsion and kg capacity 360° turn Photo credit: Freedom Electronic Marine US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED MARV anchor pole water sampler water quality sensor ADCP, computer, power bank trolling motor US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Monitoring US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Monitoring US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Results oil/chemical tanker bulk carrier cargo pusher tug tanker US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Results fishing (n=5) recreational (n=11) fast response vessel (n= 2) US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Results Calcasieu Ship Channel Kelso Bayou US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Results 60 Day 1 turbidity Vessel wake event 50 40 tanker 30 pleasure craft 20 Turbidity (NTU) Turbidity 10 0 14:09 14:15 14:22 14:29 14:35 14:42 14:49 14:55 15:02 15:09 15:15 Time (August 22, 2018) US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Results 60 Day 2 turbidity vessel wake event Pleasure craft (n=2) Fishing vessel (n=2) 50 Quick strike vessel (n=1) landing craft (n=5) Bulk carrier cargo (n=1) 40 30 Turbidity (NTU) Turbidity 20 10 0 10:20 10:28 10:39 10:47 10:56 11:04 11:14 11:22 11:58 12:06 13:45 13:57 14:06 14:21 14:29 14:38 14:48 14:56 15:05 15:13 15:22 15:30 15:39 15:47 Time (August 23, 2018) US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Conclusions Main Takeaway USVs provide a flexible approach to monitoring suspended sediments in shallow water areas. USVs near dredging operations Cannot compete with the spatial coverage of manned vessels… BUT can provide previously inaccessible high spatial and temporal resolution in small shallow water areas. Path Forward Use USVs and other unmanned technologies to facilitate communication with regulatory agencies to inform dredge operation and management decisions. US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Acknowledgements Thanks to ERDC Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, USACE New Orleans District, and the Lake Charles Pilot Organization. This research was funded by The Dredging Operations and Environmental Research Program, Todd Bridges, Director. https://doer.el.erdc.dren.mil/ WEDA Proceedings Paper Wilkens, J.L., McQueen, A.D., and Suedel, B.C. “Estimating turbidity and suspended sediment concentrations using an unmanned surface vehicle.” Proceedings of the Western Dredging Association Dredging Summit & Expo ‘19, Chicago, IL, USA, June 4-7, 2019. US Army Corps of Engineers • Engineer Research and Development Center UNCLASSIFIED .