Researchers at the University of Tennessee have equipped a kayak with video cameras both above and below water, a GPS receiver, a sonar depth finder and underwater laser to map the Big South Fork National River and the Obed Wild and Scenic River for the National Park Service. The group is led by Paul Ayers, a professor of biosystems engineering and soil science at UT. The Underwater Video Mapping System (UVMS) that was developed by Ayers and his students recently received a first place award at the school’s Engineer’s Day competition.
Data collected from the high-tech kayak will be imported into a geographic information system (GIS) for study and map making. The purpose of the project is to identify habitat for endangered freshwater muscles and endangered fish. The project will cover 77 miles of the Big South Fork River and 470 miles of tributaries.
You can read more on this project, and view a short video, on this coverage from Knox News.
