Date of Award
2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Oceanography
Specialization
Biological Oceanography
Department
Oceanography
First Advisor
Andrew Davies
Abstract
Benthic lander systems can empower researchers with access to long-term high-resolution data streams in challenging to access marine environments. In recent years, landers have emerged as key components for oceanographic research, particularly in the deep ocean due to their ability to work autonomously over long periods. However, these systems are expensive and complex, requiring specialized equipment and knowledge to design, develop, deploy, and recover that reduces broad accessibility to ocean data. Lightweight, cost effective, and multi-use benthic lander systems have the potential to provide economical platforms that reduce logistical barriers to support the next generation of oceanographic research. This project encompasses conceptual mechanical design, computational and physical scale model development, and fabrication of a benthic lander system and incorporates a literature review that explores the current state-of-the-art for benthic lander design in oceanography. The first chapter of this thesis reviews the history of benthic landers, their use in modern interdisciplinary oceanographic research, and various considerations taken during their design and engineering (Bagley et al., 2004; Cristini et al., 2016; Ewing and Vine., 1938; Lampitt et al., 2010; Tengberg et al., 1995.; Viollier et al., 2003). Following chapters apply these principles to case studies and apply these to the design and construction of a novel multi-use benthic lander with focus on ease of manufacture and transport while remaining cost efficient with the added benefit of modularity (i.e., the ability to be deployed in multiple configurations) called the ALBEX 3.0 (Autonomous Lander for Biological Experiments). These configurations ranged from a fully autonomous benthic lander system outfitted with glass spheres and acoustic releases to a lightweight ROV deployed lander, with additional compatibility as a mooring or benthic elevator system (a platform used to transport and recover in situ experiments to the seafloor). A small form lander, the Coral Ecosystem Time-Series Observer (CETO), was also designed, fully constructed, and tested. This lander is expected to be deployed for oceanographic research during the summer of 2024. The comprehensive nature of this project and multiple case study examples across different lander types can act as a potential guide for the construction of benthic lander systems in the future, which would benefit observational and experimental oceanographers across multiple disciplines.
Recommended Citation
Nadeau, David M., "BENTHIC LANDERS IN OCEANOGRAPHY – THE DESIGN AND JUSTIFICATION OF A MULTI-USE NOVEL BENTHIC LANDER SYSTEM" (2024). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2524.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2524