Autonomous Underwater Vehicles - Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System
Original (non-English) name
Acronym
AUV - IMOS
Citation
Users of IMOS data are required to clearly acknowledge the source material by including the following statement:
Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). It is operated by a consortium of institutions as an unincorporated joint venture, with the University of Tasmania as Lead Agent.
Abstract
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles or AUVs are unmanned vehicles that operate independently and under their own power. While very large-scale surface processes can be easily addressed by both remote sensing and ship-borne systems, the characterization of seafloor processes is often unachievable by these traditional methods. AUVs are effective for rapid and cost-effective high-resolution, accurately geo-referenced and targeted acoustic imagery of the seafloor.
IMOS deploys AUVs in Australian waters to provide a critical link between oceanographic and benthic processes from both tropical and temperate reef environments, spanning the entire latitudinal range of Australia.
To support a more in-depth understanding of natural, climate change and human-induced variability in the shelf environments, the Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Facility operates an integrated benthic monitoring program collecting high-quality seafloor imagery and associated water column data using AUVs at sites around the country.