ST. PETERSBURG, Fl. (April 1, 2025) — The University of South Florida College of Marine Science’s Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT) collaborated with Chance Maritime Technologies to acquire data at three backscatter calibration sites off the coast of Tampa Bay, FL.
Why Do We Need Backscatter Calibration Sites?
Backscatter data is collected by sonars, showing the intensity of the sound signal returned by the seafloor. In this way we can map not just how deep the water is, but also understand the properties of the seafloor. These data are important for applications such as habitat mapping, physical hazard identification, and seafloor characterization for environmental management.
To use and compare backscatter data between different surveys using different equipment, it is important to establish calibration sites. These backscatter calibration sites ensure that mapping efforts conducted in different places, with different gear, at different times, can be standardized for accurate comparison.
Efficient Data Collection with Uncrewed Boats
Traditional data collection offshore requires large, expensive boats to spend days, weeks, or sometimes months offshore driving back and forth across the seafloor. To make this work more efficient, Chance Maritime created new self-driving boat technology. Chance Maritime developed their LR30, a thirty-foot-long uncrewed boat to quickly collect data at sea.
The LR30 is designed and built in America of aluminum. Its low-carbon-footprint diesel engine allows rapid and efficient data collection up to a 12-kt top speed.
Multi-Payload Capacity
To complete the survey, two different types of sonars were used, multibeam and split-beam. The multibeam sonar, a Kongsberg EM2040P, transmits a fan of acoustic pulses towards the seafloor to give a highly detailed depth map. The split-beam sonar, a Kongsberg EK80 WBT Mini, is commonly used for fisheries assessments, and focuses more on what is in the water column such as schools of fish. Both systems were able to be mounted simultaneously to the LR30, allowing the survey to be completed quickly and without having to return to port to be reconfigured.
Safe Remote Operations
The LR30 is operated completely remotely using Starlink™ satellites or cellular communications. The COMIT and Chance Maritime teams set up a Remote Operations Center at COMIT’s facility in St. Petersburg, FL to operate the ocean drone and its sensors. Students and faculty from COMIT operated the sonars, while operators from Chance Maritime piloted the LR30.
The LR30 has a litany of sensors and systems for safe navigation, including GPS, 360° cameras, thermal cameras, radar, Automatic Identification System (AIS), a remote VHF radio, hailer, horn, microphones, and navigation lights. Enabled by uncrewed ocean drone technology, the team was able to work completely remotely, relieving them from dealing with potentially unsafe or nauseating conditions at sea.
The Future of Ocean Surveys
The collaboration between COMIT and Chance Maritime to use ocean drones for backscatter data collection pushes the needle forward on more safe and efficient methods for ocean data acquisition. COMIT’s backscatter calibration sites will ensure that seafloor data collected for years to come will be more accurate and comparable. This ultimately enables stakeholders to make informed policies on how our precious ocean resources can be preserved and used for generations.
About USF COMIT
The Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT) is a 5-year, $9 million cooperative agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey and the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science which launched in 2020. The Center works to operationalize cutting-edge approaches to seafloor mapping and improving response capacity to coastal hazards. Learn more at marine.usf.edu/comit.
The University of South Florida, a high-impact research university dedicated to student success and committed to community engagement, has campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF – serving approximately 50,000 students who represent nearly 150 different countries. U.S. News & World Report has ranked USF as one of the nation’s top 50 public universities for six consecutive years. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
About Chance Maritime
Chance Maritime Technologies provides Ocean Drones as a service with industry leading power and endurance. We specialize in the design, build, operation, lease, and sale of uncrewed boats to commercial, government, and academic clients. Chance Maritime’s team of experts have over 120 years of combined experience in uncrewed design and operations, ensuring quality and precise solutions which meet customer needs. For more information, visit www.chancemaritime.com.