Remote Camera Surveys

Remote camera surveys – drop down video, towed video and combined video and stills drop-down or towed systems – have been a major component of our underwater survey work for over a decade.  Remote camera surveys can often be used to identify and map underwater species and features.  They are much faster and generally less expensive than diver surveys (although in some situations diver surveys are required).  They can also be combined with spot dives: towed or drop camera transects providing rapid, wide coverage then targeted spot dives adding detail.

Marine Bio-images drop stills camera and video system being deployed from a RIB as part of our monitoring of Lamlash Bay no-take zone

Marine Bio-images drop video and stills camera system being deployed from our rigid inflatable boat as part of our monitoring of Lamlash Bay no-take zone

At Marine Bio-images we operate lightweight systems that are ideal for deployment from small vessels.  Our drop camera system has proved very successful for mapping seagrass beds (we have used this at many locations in UK waters, off the Mediterranean coast of Southern Europe and North Africa).  The system can be configured as video only or as a combined video and high resolution stills system. Key advantages are the lightwieght, compact size and modular construction.

Diagram illustrating Marine Bio-images' drop/towed camera system in operation.

Diagram illustrating Marine Bio-images’ drop/towed camera system in operation.

This allows the system to be taken as personal baggage on flights, removing the delay of waiting for freight.  The system is also entirely self-contained and can operate without external power with a fully waterproof surface unit.  This makes it idea for operation from small open vessels such as inflatables and RIBs.

Still from our drop camera system taken during a seagrass (Zostera marina) survey

Still from our drop camera system taken during a seagrass (Zostera marina) survey

Our towed camera sled is ideally suited for extensive surveys over sedimentary seabeds.  Like our drop down system this can be configured with both video and high resolution stills.  This has proved particularly successful in pipeline corridor surveys; we have used it in depths of 80-100 metres in the Persian Gulf and Black Sea as a tool to help map benthic species and biotopes within proposed pipeline corridor routes.

Marine Bio-images' towed video sled being deployed along a pipeline corridor off Iran, Persian Gulf.

Marine Bio-images’ towed video sled being deployed along a pipeline corridor off Iran, Persian Gulf.

If you would like to know more about our remote camera systems, or discuss your survey requirements, please email marine bio-images or call +44 (0)7926478199+44 (0)7926478199.

Marine Bio-images are based in Exeter, Devon, UK.  We are available to undertake marine environmental surveys locally and world-wide; recent contracts have included marine environmental surveys in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Hampshire, and further afield in Scotland, Italy, Black Sea Bulgaria, UAE and Libya.

 

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