Data scientist Gregory Murad Reis, an expert in marine robotics, writes the complex code, or roadmap, that tells the vessels where to go and importantly, how to return with their priceless treasure troves of data.
FIU scientists are using the power of marine robotics to monitor the bay’s health.
In the summer of 2020, Biscayne Bay went into respiratory distress.
High water temperatures coupled with lots of phosphorus nearly killed our bay. Hundreds of fish and marine life died. Todd Crowl, director of the Institute of Environment, quickly assembled a team of marine biologists, ecologists, chemists and computer scientists who deployed buoys and autonomous vessels — equipped with special sensors that measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll and more — to find out what was happening.
The data soon painted the full picture of what was happening: Too-hot water temperatures coupled with significant nutrient pollution had caused oxygen levels to plummet.
Fast-forward four years. The bay’s health remains in flux. Fish kills have become a common occurrence. And FIU’s robotics continue to patrol the waters.
Read more at FIU News.