About the Project
Sediment profile imaging (SPI) cameras and planar oxygen optode systems provide a means to rapidly study environmental conditions of seafloor environments. They are deployed on autonomous landers, and used by research companies around the world to investigate seafloor environments exposed to anthropogenic activities. In both systems, a flat plate is pushed into the sediment where a camera or oxygen sensitive foil take a seafloor image, or measure pore-water oxygen, respectively. This process, however, leads to extensive sediment smearing, which significantly reduces scientific interpretations, and generates only a 2D image (Wenzhofer and Glud 2001, Solan et al. 2004). Both these caveats limit their use.
The studentship will involve the development and testing of a new, novel sediment imaging system (termed “I-SPI”) that will be capable of being deployed from an autonomous lander platform. The new design will be designed to reduce extensive smearing artefacts and allow 3D images to be generated of sediment conditions, thereby better aiding rapid investigations of seafloor conditions. The PhD will comprise multiple stages, including design and development of the optical sensor system and implementation of a mechanical indenter to achieve 2½ or full 3D imaging, followed by subsequent lab-testing and field testing of a demonstrator component. The design of the system will take place at the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Heriot Watt University. The student will be based in the Marine Benthic Ecology and In-situ Technology group at the Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Science and Technology – a new pioneering global research centre set up between Heriot-Watt University and the British Geological Survey (BGS), whilst also working closely with the supervisor based at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban.
This PhD project, hosted at HWU, is part of the new multi-national research collaboration ‘NEXUSS’ (Next Generation Unmanned Systems Science), which integrates capacities between Heriot Watt University, the National Oceanography Centre, the Scottish Association of Marine Science, the University of East Anglia, the British Antarctic survey and the University of Southampton.
Funding Notes
Each NEXUSS project comes with a fully funded studentship for UK students and EU students who meet the RCUK eligibility criteria.
Applicants should have a BSc/MSci 2:1 and/or Masters (MSc or MRes) at Merit/Distinction level (>60%) and/or evidence of significant relevant professional experience equivalent to Masters level. Applicants with an applied physics/engineering background with interests in marine biology or biogeochemistry are particularly encouraged. Scholarships will be awarded by competitive merit, taking into account the academic ability of the applicant.
References
M. Solan et al. 2004. In-situ quantification of bioturbation using time-lapse fluorescent sediment profile imaging (f-SPI), luminophore tracers and model simulation. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 271: 1-12.
F. Wenzhofer and R. Glud 2004. Small-scale spatial and temporal variability in coastal benthic O2 dynamics: Effects of fauna activity. Limnology and Oceanography, 49(5), 1471–1481
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