Ocean Visibility and Optics Lab

Project Description

A laser imaging instrument named 3D-FLITES was developed at HBOI during 2004-2005 (Eran Fuchs, 2004). This 2-axis scanning blue laser system is suited for close up (<2m) high resolution 3D imaging and fluorescence imaging tasks.

• Biological and geological mapping
• inspection of underwater structures from Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) or Human Occupied Vehicles (HOVs)

Using a similar 2D raster scanning technique (US Patent # 5,418,608) employed for several previous HBOI underwater imagers (i.e. 3D-SUMS, 3D-LITES), 3D-FLITES is capable of rapidly acquiring multiple datasets at video frame rates from the scene or object being imaged; range (distance), reflectance and five fluorescence channels. Line scan mode imaging from a moving platform is also possible.

Resolution Settings:
266 x 200 pixels at 20 frames per second
1000 x 800 pixels at 1 frame per second

Example Images: The image set below illustrates the multi-dimensional imaging capabilities of the 3D-FLITES, where images of the Indo-Pacific coral species Trachyphyllia geoffroyi are shown, with three different interpretations (reflectance, fluorescence and 3D).

Broader Impacts

Fluorescence techniques have previously been applied to the assessment of benthic community structure and health of corals. The task of automatic classification can be significantly aided through the use of these rich, multidimensional datasets.

One other potential use is in Homeland Security, where newly submerged objects on a ship's hull, for example, with only a light dusting of marine growth, may exhibit a different fluorescent signature from the surrounding hull which has more established colonies of marine growth. So identification of such suspicious objects may be possible by scanning the ship's hull with this type of sensor.

Please contact Fraser Dalgleish for more information.