Development of a stereo camera system for monitoring hydrokinetic turbines

The implementation of a hybrid optical-acoustic imaging system is described and evaluated for environmental monitoring of a hydrokinetic turbine. This monitoring system is intended to provide real time stereographic imagery in the near field (≥10 m) of tidal turbines proposed for deployment in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington. Post deployment observations will provide valuable information about the frequency and character of interactions of marine animals with the turbine. Optical camera effectiveness is evaluated under realistic field conditions in order to determine the range within which it is able to detect, discriminate, and classify targets. These field evaluations serve to inform optimal system placement relative to the turbine. Preliminary assessment of image quality and measurements taken by the stereographic cameras show that it will likely be able to discriminate and classify targets at ranges up to 3.5 m and detect targets at ranges up to and potentially beyond 4.5 m.