https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9YkaJkLogE
Marine Robotics & Remote Sensing
Technology at the forefront of marine science and conservation
Population Monitoring
One of the most frequent uses of UAS in marine science and conservation is for assessing the abundance and density of marine organisms. In many cases, these assessments are done using fixed-wing UAS, although multirotor UASs are also employed for these purposes. A variety of sensors are applied to these tasks to help identify organisms.
Habitat Assessments
Drones are incredibly useful tools for mapping marine and coastal habitats.They can cover large areas and collect high resolution data without disturbing sensitive habitats. The MaRRS lab uses drones to study a variety of habitats, from important oceanographic features to the rocky islands of the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Behavior and Morphometrics
The size and morphology of an animal is a key constraint to its habitat use and foraging behavior, and can reflect its current health and overall fitness. The MaRRS lab uses drone-based photogrammetry to study the size, body condition, and morphology of marine animals, along with capturing key elements of their behavior.
Conservation Ecology
Much of the work we do in the MaRRS lab is integrative and applied, whether we are creating new approaches to survey marine habitats, engineering solutions to make research more efficient, or addressing key complexities that arise from applying novel tools and techniques in marine science and conservation.
We use emerging technology to promote the conservation of marine species and spaces through research & education.
The Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Laboratory (MaRRS) opened its doors in August 2015 as a center to promote interdisciplinary research using unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS, aka drones) and other small robotic platforms. We support researchers and students from multiple universities in addition to providing expertise for client projects. We have researchers working in our back yard and as far as the Antarctic Peninsula.
About the MaRRS lab
Drones provide several advantages to marine scientists. They’re affordable and efficient. They collect immediate, high quality data in a way that is safe for researchers and doesn’t harm the environment. Their on-demand remote sensing capabilities gather information that occupied aircraft and satellites can’t. The Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab (MaRRS) has been using drones since 2015, studying everything from blue whales to oysters. The lab’s team incorporates biological, ecological, engineering, and computational expertise while supporting student work. Find us at the Duke Marine Lab, part of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University.
Papers Published
53
Students Mentored
42
Achieve your potential with us!
The Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing lab welcomes students at undergraduate, Masters, and PhD levels, including undergraduate students enrolled at Duke University Marine Lab and Masters of Environmental Management students at Duke University.
Our mission is to enhance your underatanding of marine science and conservation, build your technical skills, and help you become a thought leader in your area of interest. Come work with us!
