The Seafloor HyDrone is a remotely-controlled catamaran that is used to collect nearshore bathymetric data through an attached RTK-GPS and single beam sonar. We use this device to conduct bathymetric surveys in shallow water and when it is unsafe to collect data with an occupied boat, such as during winter or after storms.

The Trimble R10-2 RTK GPS antenna and the Trimble TSC7 controller are used to collect centimeter-accurate horizontal and vertical location data. This device is the backbone of our field equipment and we use it for everything from collecting control points for drone flights to measuring lakebed elevation during bathymetry surveys.

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is a small unoccupied aircraft system (sUAS) utilized for capturing aerial imagery of coastal landforms. We use these images to create digital elevation models (DEMs) through structure-from-motion photogrammetry. The imagery can also be mosaicked together and compared to historical photography.

The Autel Evo II Pro 6K is a small unoccupied aircraft system (sUAS) utilized for capturing aerial imagery and elevation data of coastal landforms. It is utilized in the same way as our Phantom 4 Pro drone however, it is more lightweight and compact making it ideal for citizen science applications.

The R/V Harper Louis is a 20-foot Carolina Skiff that is outfitted for nearshore hydrographic surveying. This vessel can collect data in both very shallow water (drafts less than 1 foot) and in deeper, more offshore locations (115 HP 4-stroke motor with a 30 gallon gas tank). The working platform on this boat can also accommodate sediment coring and sampling, towing geophysical instruments, and deploying hydrodynamic sensors.

This SBES is used to map nearshore bathymetry. The system is coupled with the RTK GPS for position information and can be used in water as shallow as 0.5 m and as deep as 100m. It is also portable and can be affixed either to the R/V/ Harper Louise, the drone boat, or even a kayak.