An underwater 3D digital imaging tech firm is trialling a first-of-its-kind system to map out and monitor complex marine environments and habitats.

Oban-based Tritonia Scientific will test the effectiveness of using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to create digital twins of the seabed.

Tritonia Scientific will have support from the Lyell Centre at Heriot-Watt University, seafood producer Mowi, and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC).

Over the next 12 months, Tritonia, building on existing environmental data sets, will develop a digital record of the hard substrate found at selected Mowi sites, using georeferenced photogrammetry.

Compared to soft seabed, where samples of sediment can be taken regularly and easily, monitoring hard substrates can be challenging because of the low visibility of the water even when using divers or drop-down cameras to assess the terrain. The hard nature of the seabed makes it near impossible to grab samples.

The new system will use underwater ROVs linked to above water GPS technology and acoustic transponders to capture digital images of the seabed to assess current and future finfish farms, as well as identifying the presence of priority marine features – nationally protected habitats and essential underwater ecosystems for Scotland’s coastal seas.

Using the images, the company will create an accurate 3D model that can show various physical characteristics and be used alongside advanced comparison software to monitor changes on the seabed.

Martin Sayer, Managing Director of Tritonia Scientific, said: “Using imaging technology could help the aquaculture sector to gain a much more detailed, accurate picture of the complex seabeds they are operating beside or above.

“Our hope is that the system could ultimately support regulation and environmental monitoring in ways that would provide the levels of evidence that would be necessary for future sustainable operations.”

Supposedly the technology could present significant opportunities for companies in the sector to obtain accurate, digital records of the seabed below and close to their operations.

Sayer added: “At the moment, divers face a range of challenges in terms of visibility and climate, particularly if algal blooms are present, but the digital twin allows us to essentially remove the surrounding water at the click of a button, using images captured by an ROV.

“Just one survey can generate a 3D model that provides a permanent record of the seabed terrain at a fixed point in time, which could be used for comparisons for years to come.”

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From a single ROV dive, substantial amounts of data and images can be captured to provide producers with accurate information to aid decision-making, such as the volume and area of specific geographical features.

Information can also be used to detect protected habitats such as maerl beds – formed of red coralline algae – that, while difficult to map, are an important consideration for decisions about potential fish farm locations.

Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, said: “Technology is becoming increasingly important for the aquaculture sector and collaborative research projects and trials can be an incredibly valuable demonstration of the real-world applications of new data-led techniques.

“In this case, we could see ROVs and imaging technology playing a vital role in monitoring the sector’s environmental impact and increasing its economic impact by supporting future decisions about farm locations and possible expansion.”

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