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Lidar + Sonar = a revolution in seafloor mapping

Seamless topobathymetric Lidar digital elevation model (DEM) of an area of the Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida.

 

Visualization with NOAA raster chart in the GeoGarage platform

 
From Hydro by Ryan Cross, Dave Neff, Karen Hart 

How the ambitious Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative is setting the standard for our understanding of coastal environments

Beneath the sunlit waves of Florida lies an intricate underwater world that few have seen but many depend on.
Through the Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative, Woolpert and partners are capturing this hidden landscape in unprecedented detail.
Using aircraft, ships and uncrewed vessels equipped with Lidar and sonar, they have mapped tens of thousands of square kilometres despite hurricanes and rough seas.
The resulting seafloor model will enhance navigation, habitat protection and coastal resilience while deepening understanding of Florida’s marine environment.

There are few regions of the United States as defined by or as dependent upon their coastal waters as the state of Florida.
Florida’s annual maritime economy is valued at US$402 billion, incorporating tourism, commerce and trade.
Cruise and cargo operations alone contribute to at least US$117 billion and over 900,000 direct and indirect jobs across the state, according to the Florida Ports Council.

Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative

At a time when shifting climate patterns are affecting coastal regions around the world in myriad, often undetermined ways, and with a need to understand coastal vulnerabilities and other issues, Woolpert and partners embarked on the ambitious Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative (FSMI), a multifaceted project led by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to create a high-resolution seafloor surface model of the state’s coastal waters.

Deploying aircraft, ships and uncrewed surface vessels, the team mapped tens of thousands of square kilometres of the Florida coast.
Using Lidar sensors from the air and multibeam sonar technology from the sea – a combination of technologies deployed at a scale not previously attempted – the team has generated highly-detailed imaging of Florida’s underwater environment.

Since October 2023, experts and technicians have faced down hurricanes, freezing winds and weeks spent on ships far offshore.
But with significant and wide-ranging project outcomes expected, the effort is deemed worth the challenges.

Slated for hosting on the website of the National Centers for Environmental Informationand the Florida Geographic Information Office, this sophisticated mapping database will help with habitat and ecological management, promote methods for safer navigation and assist with fishery and other resource management efforts.
It is also expected to aid with coastal resilience efforts, the identification of precise locations of shipwrecks and other popular underwater tourism sites, and provide a host of yet-to-be-determined returns.

What is more, making the data available to the public allows anyone – from recreational fishers to curious students anywhere in the world – to see and experience exactly what lies underneath Florida’s coastline.

 

RV Thunder is owned and operated by Woolpert.

This purpose-built vessel surveyed in both the Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic coast.

Mapping from the air

Woolpert’s topographic-bathymetric (topobathy) Lidar mapping efforts focus on FSMI’s Region 3, covering nearly 27,000 square kilometres off the southern coast of Florida, including the Florida Keys, the remote Dry Tortugas National Park and parts of the south-east Gulf of Mexico.
Since October 2023, four aircraft equipped with Leica Chiroptera-5 and HawkEye-5 sensors have conducted five mapping expeditions, collecting seafloor data to depths of 48 metres.

With priorities centred on shallow-water regions, the Lidar imaging has uncovered submerged channels critical for navigation, blue holes and carbonate banks.
It also generated detailed datasets for habitat systems and environments crucial to the health of manatee populations, coral reefs and mangrove forests in places such as the Big Sable Creek mangrove forest ecosystem in the Everglades National Park.

The ability of topobathy Lidar to collect huge swathes of data using a single flight line makes it a key tool for completing projects quickly and accurately.

Bathymetric data acquired in 85 metre depths off Florida’s Atlantic coast.

The dunes are about 15 metres tall and continue for hundreds of kilometres.

And from the sea

Deploying up to eight boats ranging from 50 to 130 feet in size, the sonar surveying operations have covered nearly 18,000 square kilometres of seafloor in areas within regions 1 (north-east Florida), 5 (the Big Bend region) and 6 (the Florida Panhandle).
To improve the efficiency of the sonar operation, sections of the mapping process saw a dual-head setup on ships that supported a wide swathe of surveying, boosting coverage areas to five times the water depth in shallow water.

Woolpert exclusively uses R2Sonic (2022, 2024 and 2026) multibeam sonar surveying technology systems that can scan more than 200 metres beneath the surface of the sea.
While some of these coastal areas have been mapped in the past, this project stands out in its ability to deliver higher resolution and image quality than achieved before to establish a new level of clarity.
And while past projects have relied on autonomous vessel mapping, this FSMI project is the first of its scale to deploy over-the-horizon autonomous systems, meaning these vessels are operating uncrewed and alone in open water.
Satellite technologies such as Starlink enable surveyors and technicians to be on the vessels, virtually.

Project technicians remotely operated the autonomous, uncrewed vessel MC29, which can work for weeks at a time using Starlink communications.
Woolpert installed its equipment on the 29-foot-long vessel, which was operated by Chance Maritime pilots, to map around 2,150 square kilometres of seafloor.
This remote MC29 operation made the project far more efficient than when requiring a traditional crewed vessel.

Woolpert deployed a ‘follow the sun’ system, whereby data collectors based in South Carolina, Alaska, Australia and Ireland maintained a 24-hour system to collect data remotely and in real time.

More than a dozen wrecks were mapped in the bathymetric data including this 170 by 70-metre floating drydock that was sunk in 40 metres of water to create an artificial reef.

Far-reaching goals

The scale and ambition of the FSMI project served up challenges and opportunities to propel new advancements in equal measure.
In similar projects, mapping is conducted typically only during the summer months, when surface water conditions are relatively calm.
This short mapping season could have turned the FSMI project into a three- to five-year endeavour, but the Woolpert team kept working throughout the year, often in challenging sea conditions.

Florida’s coastal waters routinely face weather not seen in most other parts of the world.
For five months of the year, hurricanes can be a major concern for residents, businesses and tourists.
Allocating vessels while attempting to anticipate storm tracks as they rolled through western Florida during the second half of 2024 proved to be a challenge for project managers working to keep the FSMI project on track.
In October 2024, Hurricane Milton, the strongest tropical cyclone to have occurred anywhere in the world that year, wreaked havoc across Florida’s peninsular coast in the form of widespread damage and fatalities.

Another daunting challenge was managing and processing petabytes of data.
Data collection from multiple sensors on up to four different aircraft could have resulted in significant variances in datasets.
To remedy this potential obstacle, the Woolpert team automated much of the offshore processing, including such processes as noise removal, to save significant time and align with the project budget.
Occasionally, environmental challenges such as water turbidity resulted in the need for reflown flight lines.

MC29 uncrewed surface vehicle that acquired over 2,500 square kilometres of bathymetric data in the Panhandle Region of Florida.

Opportunities to innovate

The FSMI project presented the team with more than just challenges; it also offered opportunities for learning and adaptation, opening the door for more innovation going forward.
After Hurricane Milton hit the Tampa Bay region, a nearby Woolpert research vessel quickly mobilized to map the artificially dredged shipping channel leading into Tampa Bay to identify any debris blockages.
This effort enabled large tanker traffic to quickly enter the bay in the crucial hours and days following the devastating hurricane.

Moreover, in past projects, vessels typically went offshore for days or weeks at a time, returning with massive banks of data.
To support a more continuous project schedule, the Woolpert team developed a data workflow plan leveraging automation, autonomy and innovative new technology.

Now, thanks in part to satellite systems such as Starlink, that data can be received and processed in a continuous, steady feed in real time, cutting out potential data transfer bottlenecks and uneven demands for computing power – two issues that can significantly disrupt the flow of a project of this scale.

In addition to the technical learnings the project has presented, the team uncovered a host of critical environmental data points.
For example, when coastlines require repair in the aftermath of storms – an issue that many scientists expect to become more prominent in the years ahead – repair crews will know exactly where to look for the large underwater sand deposits essential to completing the projects, thanks to the mapping efforts.
What is more, we know that reefs can act as a buffer to protect metropolitan areas from storms and sea surges.
Finding and mapping those reefs now means that communities may be better prepared to deal with the adverse effects of severe weather events.

By bringing together a host of contractors and interests to map its state waters, FDEP has displayed remarkable ambition and teamwork.
And with an estimated US$28 million annual return on investment, Florida seafloor mapping is an asset that is set to pay off for Floridians today, tomorrow and well into the future.

“It’s a warship with no captain”: the AIRCAT Bengal MC can launch Tomahawks on its own—and it just changed naval warfare forever

Illustration of the AIRCAT Bengal MC, an advanced autonomous naval vessel equipped with missile launch capabilities.

From AfricaTimes by Eirwen Williams

“It’s a Warship With No Captain”: The AIRCAT Bengal MC Can Launch Tomahawks on Its Own—and It Just Changed Naval Warfare Forever
In a groundbreaking development for naval warfare, the unveiling of the AIRCAT Bengal MC—a state-of-the-art autonomous vessel designed by Eureka Naval Craft in collaboration with Greenroom Robotics—promises to redefine strategic capabilities with its unmatched speed, payload capacity, and advanced missile systems.

• The AIRCAT Bengal MC is a cutting-edge autonomous naval vessel, transforming strategic capabilities in warfare.
• Equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Naval Strike Missiles, it enhances military power while reducing costs.
• It features a modular design and superior fuel efficiency, offering versatility and cost-effective operations.
• Developed with Greenroom Robotics, it sets new standards in autonomous navigation and naval warfare.

The unveiling of the AIRCAT Bengal MC represents a significant leap forward in naval technology, marking a new era in autonomous warfare capabilities.

Developed by Eureka Naval Craft in collaboration with Greenroom Robotics, this vessel is hailed as the world’s most advanced autonomous naval ship.

With its sleek design and impressive capabilities, the Bengal MC is poised to revolutionize naval warfare.

This state-of-the-art vessel can be operated both autonomously and with a crew, providing unparalleled flexibility and strategic advantage.

As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, such technological advancements are becoming increasingly vital for maintaining military superiority on the global stage.

An artist’s rendition of the Bengal-MC fitted with a modular mission payload, 

in this case a set of loitering munitions.

Eureka Naval Craft

Revolutionizing Naval Warfare with Advanced Capabilities

The AIRCAT Bengal MC is a remarkable feat of engineering, offering capabilities that set it apart from traditional naval vessels.

Its ability to carry a substantial payload of 44 tons, including two 40-foot ISO footprint modules, is matched by its impressive speed, exceeding 50 knots.

With a range of 1,000 nautical miles, the vessel can reach distant operational theaters without frequent refueling stops.

This strategic asset is equipped to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles and Naval Strike Missiles, enhancing its lethality while reducing reliance on larger, more expensive crewed warships.

This vessel is particularly attractive to major naval powers such as the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, and allied nations within AUKUS and NATO.

Additionally, countries like Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines may find its capabilities beneficial to their own naval operations.

The Bengal MC’s autonomous operations and advanced missile compatibility make it a formidable force in modern naval warfare, offering strategic advantages that are hard to match.

Enhanced Lethality with Missile Launch Capabilities

The Bengal MC’s missile launch capabilities represent a major shift in naval strategy.

Traditionally, missions requiring missile deployment necessitated the use of larger vessels, which came with significant costs and logistical challenges.

The Bengal MC disrupts this paradigm by offering a smaller, faster, and heavily armed alternative.

This innovation reduces costs while increasing operational efficiency, a critical factor in today’s budget-conscious military environments.

Bo Jardine, CEO of Eureka Naval Craft, highlights the importance of such advancements in the current naval landscape.

This vessel is not only about speed and firepower; it enhances strategic flexibility and adaptability.

The Bengal MC’s ability to carry heavier payloads at high speeds allows for rapid response to threats and opportunities, providing a tactical advantage that is increasingly necessary in complex maritime environments.

Unmatched Efficiency and Versatility

Fuel efficiency and cost-effectiveness are among the Bengal MC’s standout features, making it an appealing option for navies looking to optimize their budgets.

The vessel’s modular design allows it to fulfill multiple roles, from troop transport to electronic warfare and mine operations.

This versatility ensures that it can be customized to meet specific operational needs, offering a tailored solution to diverse maritime challenges.

The partnership with Greenroom Robotics enhances the vessel’s capabilities by integrating the most advanced autonomous navigation system available.

This technology ensures seamless operation across all mission phases, supported by extensive trials that validate its reliability and performance.

The Greenroom Advanced Maritime Autonomy Software system represents a significant advancement in naval technology, setting new standards for autonomous operations across the globe.

Expanding the Fleet with Modular Design

The AIRCAT Bengal MC is part of a broader strategy to expand and diversify naval capabilities.

Each vessel within the fleet is designed for specific missions, whether it be fast attack, reconnaissance, or high-speed troop transport.

The modular design philosophy allows each vessel to be customized to meet the unique demands of its mission, providing the flexibility needed in a rapidly changing naval landscape.

Eureka Naval Craft’s commitment to innovation is evident in its expanding fleet and strategic partnerships.

The collaboration with Greenroom Robotics exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to maritime autonomy.

As the naval landscape continues to evolve, the Bengal MC represents a bold step forward in military technology, offering strategic advantages that are hard to ignore.

As the AIRCAT Bengal MC sets sail, it raises important questions about the future of naval warfare. How will such autonomous technology reshape global naval strategies, and what challenges and opportunities will arise as a result? 

The answers will undoubtedly influence the next generation of military innovation and strategic planning.

Links :

• TWZ : Bengal-MC Air Cushion Catamaran Aims To Be The Navy’s Future Ultra-Adaptable Combat Ship
• News release from Eureka Naval Craft, US naval defense company and Australian maritime autonomy company, Greenroom Robotics 
• New Atlas : Autonomous, armed, and fast: Meet the Bengal MC warship
• Energy Reporters : “44 Tons at 57 Miles Per Hour”: US Unveils First Autonomous Warship Carrying Tomahawk Missiles Without Any Crew 

French sailor won round-the-world solo race while treating himself for cancer

Charlie Dalin was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour in late 2023 

Credit: AFP via Getty Images/Loic Venance 

From The Telegraph by Tom Cary

Charlie Dalin set record time of 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds, all the while receiving immunotherap

The Vendée Globe round-the-world yacht race is known as the “Everest of the Seas” for good reason. Requiring competitors to sail alone for months on end, in isolated seas, performing all boat repairs unassisted, enduring extreme sleep deprivation, it is about as tough a physical and mental challenge as it is possible to imagine.

But the winner of the last edition, Frenchman Charlie Dalin, has now revealed that, at the same time as he was battling the elements, he was also undergoing treatment for cancer.

Dalin, 41, completed the toughest single-handed yacht race in the world in January this year in a record time of 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds despite a diagnosis that came roughly a year before the start.

Dalin was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour in late 2023.

“I had a tumour 15 centimetres long on my intestine,” Dalin told L’Equipe in an interview ahead of Thursday’s publication of his book La Force du Destin (The Force of Destiny) in which he recounts his illness and treatment. 

“They removed it in February [2024], but it came back elsewhere in April.”

⛵️ CHARLIE DALIN REMPORTE LE VENDÉE GLOBE

Le skipper pulvérise le record avec un tour du monde bouclé en 64 jours, 19 heures, 22 minutes et 52 secondes. Une performance exceptionnelle ! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SpXfkMr88h

— la chaine L'Équipe (@lachainelequipe) January 14, 2025

Dalin, who races for MerConcept, the Concarneau-based team founded by François Gabart, said he underwent immunotherapy throughout the race.

“I was lucky to tolerate the treatment very well during the Vendée Globe,” he said. “Continuing to do what I love helped me focus on something other than the disease.”

Dalin said he first felt symptoms in late 2023 during a training sail. 

He underwent emergency scans and began treatment immediately, determined not to delay.
“There’s no logic to it. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I’m fit. Why me? No reason – just bad luck,” he said. “At first you see it as an injustice. Then you accept it.” 

 

Dalin learnt of his cancer diagnosis roughly a year before the start of the non-stop Vendee Globe race Credit: Getty Images/Sebastien Salom-Gomis

In a separate interview with AFP, he added: “I stuck to my strategy, sleeping an average of 6½ hours per 24 hours, which is more than on my first Vendée. I had stomach pains, but I just told myself: you don’t have time to worry about that. The pains went away as quickly as they had come. By the time I got back to shore, I had almost forgotten about them.”

Dalin’s win in January was particularly well received because the Frenchman famously finished second in his first attempt at the Vendée four years earlier, despite having crossed the line first.

Dalin took line honours in Les Sables d’Olonne in January 2021, only for his compatriot, Yannick Bestaven, to be awarded the win despite crossing the line in third place.

Bestaven was awarded a time compensation of 10 hours and 15 minutes for his role in the dramatic rescue of fellow competitor Kevin Escoffier.

Such rescues are part and parcel of the Vendée Globe, a race in which competitors are sometimes so isolated their nearest human neighbours are on the International Space Station.

If you get into trouble, and you cannot rescue yourself, invariably it is your fellow competitors who need to come to your aid.

Jean Le Cam, the skipper who eventually rescued Escoffier after his boat “folded in two” on day 23 in 2020, was himself saved by Vincent Riou in 2009.

Briton Pete Goss famously rescued Raphaël Dinelli in the 1996 Vendée Globe. 

Alex Thomson was rescued by Mike Golding in the Velux 5 Oceans race in 2006. 
Briton Pip Hare lost her mast in the Southern Ocean in the last Vendée Globe, but was able to fashion a makeshift rig before “limping” 800 nautical miles to Melbourne. 

She penned an emotional column for Telegraph Sport about the experience.

Of 240 race starts in the history of the Vendée Globe, only 146 have resulted in a classified finish.

Dalin remains under medical treatment, but hopes to rebuild strength after losing about 10 kilograms. “It’s stabilised now, thankfully. I just need to regain some muscle,” he said.

The sailor said Macif, his sponsor, has confirmed its continued support, with future plans due to be announced on October 13.

He may attend the start of the Transat Jacques-Vabre later this month, but is focused for now on recovery.
“To be at the start of the Vendée Globe, that was incredible. A year earlier I was in hospital, unsure if I would live,” he said. “Winning it – after all that – felt like I’d already won once before.”

He also told Voiles et Voiliers: “Frankly, if a screenwriter had imagined a script around the Vendée, he would never have dared to write the story of a sailor with cancer, who returns to the race of his dreams and wins it after crossing the line first.” 

 

Links :

• NYTimes : Charlie Dalin won Vendee Globe in record time while undergoing cancer treatment 
• VendeeGlobe : Discovering Dalin 

Sailing ship and old pilot of Saint Malo», dated 1963

 Marin-Marie (1901 - 1987, French)