AUVs are an ideal tool for oil spills, pipeline leak detection and inspection. They can also be utilized for post oil spill missions to measure hydrocarbons in the water column. AUVs can be deployed rapidly from vessels of opportunity or a dock, making a rapid response to any emergency situation simple.
Hydroid AUVs can record temperature, salinity, turbidity and current as standard. They can also be equipped to detect algal blooms, dissolved oxygen, various gasses and particles in the water. Much of this data is collected during every mission. Dives can be planned to map thermoclines and pycnocline in 3 dimensions with return surveys for comparison providing temporal awareness.
Larger AUVs are sometimes used for fish stock assessment surveys and can be equipped with acoustic sensors to detect and quantify fish, krill and plankton. The standard acoustic sensors and cameras provide point source and non-point source tracking and 3D views of water columns and are useful for benthic habitat mapping. Volumetric calculations using synthetic aperture data provide a unique way to assess coral.
Limnology, also called freshwater science, is the study of inland waters such as lakes, ponds, rivers, springs, streams and wetlands. It includes both fresh and salt water present in man-made or natural forms. The AUVs are perfectly suited to this application, as they can be controlled from the shoreline and operated in shallow water.
