Bedrock: Autonomous Seafloor Mapping | Modern Hydrography

The Advancement of Offshore Wind Power and Seafloor Mapping

The growing demand for renewable energy sources has propelled offshore wind power into a central position within the strategies of numerous energy companies. This surge necessitates a detailed examination of the ocean floor at prospective installation sites. Fortunately, Bedrock is revolutionizing this mapping process with its autonomous underwater vehicle and a contemporary, cloud-based data service.

A Modern Approach to Seafloor Data

The company’s objective is to supersede the conventional method of utilizing large vessels equipped with extensive sonar systems. They are providing a quicker, more intelligent, and up-to-date service, enabling organizations to generate highly accurate seafloor imagery with the same ease as scaling server capacity for website hosting.

“We are confident that we are the first cloud-native platform dedicated to seafloor data,” stated Anthony DiMare, CEO and co-founder of Bedrock, alongside CTO Charlie Chiau. “This presents a significant data challenge – how do you architect systems to effectively support such a solution? We’ve created a modern data service, diverging from the traditional large-scale marine operation. You are no longer constrained by substantial infrastructure positioned in the water. Every aspect, from sonar deployment to data delivery to engineers, has been reimagined.”

Mosaic: A Cloud-Based Data Solution

Bedrock’s offering to clients is high-resolution seafloor maps, accessible through Mosaic, a user-friendly web service that handles all data analysis and hosting. This represents a substantial improvement for an industry where “data migration” often involves physically transporting hard drives.

Previously, DiMare explained, data collection, processing, and storage occurred directly on the ships themselves. Due to their diverse roles, ranging from harbor inspections to deep-sea surveys, reliable internet connectivity was not guaranteed, and the raw data remained unusable. Like any large dataset, it requires visualization and contextualization to be valuable.

Image Credits: Bedrock

“These datasets are exceptionally large, often exceeding tens of terabytes in size,” DiMare noted. “Conventional cloud systems are not optimally designed to manage 20,000 sonar files.”

Focus on Near-Shore Data and Growing Demand

Currently, the market prioritizes detailed data from near-shore areas, driven by the increasing interest in the expanding wind energy sector. This proximity to established internet infrastructure facilitates easier cloud-based processing and storage. Consequently, data can be processed and delivered more rapidly, coinciding with the escalating demand.

As DiMare elaborated, even if a seafloor survey was conducted within the last two decades at a potential installation site, it’s merely a starting point. An initial mapping pass may be needed to validate older maps and add detail, followed by further surveys for permitting, environmental assessments, engineering, construction, and ongoing inspections. A streamlined, automated process delivering superior results at a lower cost would be a significant advantage for customers accustomed to traditional methods. Furthermore, if the industry expands as anticipated, requiring continuous seafloor monitoring along U.S. coastlines, it presents a substantial opportunity for Bedrock.

Image Credits: Bedrock

The Development of Bedrock’s Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Central to this innovation is the craft responsible for data collection. “The AUV is a technology we developed specifically to enable our data product,” DiMare stated, adding that initially, “we didn’t intend to build it ourselves.”

“We began evaluating off-the-shelf systems,” he explained. “However, to create a highly scalable, efficient system achieving the best cost per square meter, we required a specific set of features, including particular sonars and a dedicated compute stack. By the time we compiled this list, we essentially had a self-designed system. It’s faster, more operationally flexible, delivers better data quality, and operates more reliably.”

Remarkably, the AUV doesn’t require a dedicated vessel – it can be transported from the back of a van and launched from a pier or beach.

“From the outset, we imposed a restriction on ourselves: ‘no boats.’ We also needed the ability to transport it by air. This fundamentally altered our approach,” DiMare said.

High-Frequency Sonar and Environmental Considerations

Image Credits: Bedrock

The AUV is compact yet powerful, and while its sensor configuration varies depending on the task, a defining characteristic is its high-frequency sonar.

Sonars operate across a broad spectrum of frequencies, ranging from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of hertz. However, this means that marine life, many species of which can hear within this range, are exposed to considerable background noise, potentially causing harm or deterring them from an area. Sonar operating around 200 kHz is considered safe for animals, but the higher frequency results in greater signal attenuation, limiting the range to 50-75 meters.

This range is insufficient for ships operating on the surface, as much of the seafloor lies beyond 75 meters. However, a craft consistently maintained within 50 meters of the seabed offers numerous advantages. Bedrock’s AUV is specifically engineered to achieve this.

The increased sonar frequency also translates to enhanced detail, providing a clearer image than lower-frequency systems. Furthermore, its safety for marine animals eliminates the need for time-consuming and essential permits from wildlife authorities. A solution that is better, faster, cheaper, and safer is a compelling proposition.

Mosaic Launch and Data Accessibility

Today marks the official launch of Mosaic, and to encourage adoption, Bedrock is offering 50 gigabytes of free storage for any compatible map data, as the platform is format-agnostic.

A significant amount of data is publicly available but difficult to locate and utilize. This may include low-resolution surveys from decades past or highly specific scans from research groups. Consolidating this data into a single platform would significantly enhance its utility, according to DiMare.

“Our ultimate goal is to map the entire ocean on an annual basis,” he concluded. “Therefore, we have a considerable amount of work ahead of us.”