Underwater Exploration with Photogrammetry at Green Lake
“Green Lake was an exercise in patience and creativity. From the beginning, we knew that what we were trying to accomplish had never been done before in microbiology and geology research. At no point while working on this project did I know whether what we were attempting was even possible. It was oddly motivating to know that there were no expectations of success, so it was exhilarating when we made any amount of progress. However, the satisfaction I felt when I finally produced a 3D model made the whole process worthwhile.”
Tyler Rodenberger ’25
Project Title: Underwater Exploration with Photogrammetry at Green Lake
Description: In coordination with Digital Initiatives, Scholarship, and Collaboration (DISC), Michael McCormick, Professor of Biology, recently piloted an underwater remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) from a boat in Green Lake, searching for biofilms clinging to the lake’s banks and floor. The submersible, which plunged down over twenty meters, videoed the muddy lakebed via mounted GoPro cameras. Green Lake, about nine miles (14 km) east of Syracuse, is one of the most studied meromictic lakes in the world: while the surface and deep waters of most lakes mix throughout the year, the layers of Green Lake remain wholly separated, sustaining substantially differentiated habitats at different depths. Tracking and imaging biofilms — mutually-beneficial relationships of microorganisms adhered to a surface — proffers a wealth of information on biological diversity at disparate locations within the lake. A fault within Green Lake is thought to allow nutrient-rich groundwater to seep into the lake, feeding the biofilms imaged by the DISC team and helping to give the lake its distinctive turquoise color. After pulling individual frames from these GoPro videos, the DISC team used the photogrammetry software Agisoft Metashape to generate high-resolution, geolocated 3D models of the biofilms, providing detailed, accurate visualizations of these vibrant underwater communities.
Deliverables: Digital 3D Models
Date: 2022 - 2023
Principal: Michael McCormick
Collaborators: Douglas Higgins; Marianita Peaslee
Students: Anthony Hevia '24; Tyler Rodenberger '25
Departments and Offices: Biology; Library and Information Technology Services
Contact
Digital Initiatives, Scholarship, and Collaboration
