For more information contact:

Cube

Computer

Sounder

Gen.

Dolch

Computer

Boat

Navigator

 Operator

Video/Pole 

Operator

Up/Down

GPS

Antenna

Pole

Up/Down

Drive

Pole

Sounder

Transducer

Video

Camera

Nikon

Digital

Camera

Lamp Sonar 

Transducer

Sonar

Video 

Monitor

VCR

Along-Track Reef Imaging System (ATRIS)

Features

• Geo-located, scaled digital images

• Easily deployed from small boats

• Frame-of-reference video providing 

an oblique view

• Interactive, geographic browsing of 

boat position and acquired images

Applications

• Mapping

• Monitoring

• Habitat classification

• Change detection

• Impact assessment

The ATRIS System. The cameras, depth sounder, and GPS receiver are mounted on an adjustable pole. The 

system is easily mounted to the transom of most moderately-sized boats (~25 ft long).

Adjustable Pole

Transom Mount

The U.S. Geological Survey has developed the Along-Track Reef Imaging System 

(ATRIS), a boat-based sensor package for rapidly mapping shallow water (<10 m) benthic 

environments. ATRIS acquires high resolution, color digital images that are accurately 

geo-located in real-time. For a typical mission, 1,000 ATRIS images are captured per hour 

at a survey speed of 1 knot.

Ongoing Development

• Unsupervised classification algorithms

• Topographic complexity estimation

• Database with web-interface

ADAPT Software

Complementing the acquisition system is the ATRIS Data Analysis and Processing Tool 

(ADAPT) software package. ADAPT makes it easy to examine and analyze the massive 

amounts of data collected on a typical ATRIS mission. ADAPT is based on open-source 

LINUX software and enables interactive geographic browsing, scaling, and extraction of 

specifi c images for further quantitative analysis. With the integrated Hypack navigational 

software component, vessel tracks can be plotted, allowing for spatial navigation of the 

images. Clicking on a point along a track loads the corresponding ATRIS image. 

Specifi cations

• Camera: 12.4 Megapixel

• Geo-location accuracy: >~50cm

• Depth sounder accuracy: ~1cm

• Operating depth range: 3-10m

• Power: 2 kW AC provided by portable 

generator.

• Boat: 25’ with dry cuddy cabin. Room 

to mount ATRIS on transom.

Collaboration Opportunities

Work with us! The USGS actively seeks 

partnerships to foster further development 

and application of the ATRIS. Projects 

involving benthic habitat mapping and/or 

monitoring will benefi t from the geo-located 

imagery collected with ATRIS. Join the 

growing ATRIS community!

Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies

U.S. Geological Survey

600 Fourth Street South

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

(727) 803-8747

ADAPT software. Clicking on 

a vessel track (left) loads the 

corresponding ATRIS image 

(right). The bottom window 

displays the Latitude & Longitude 

coordinates for the scene.

Location coordinates

Cross-linked Ship 

Tracks & Images

Dr. John Brock 

jbrock@usgs.gov

Dr. Dave Zawada

dzawada@usgs.gov

U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2006–3051

U.S. Geological Survey January 2006
Soft Coral

Seagrass Rubble

Hard Coral

Fort Jefferson

Dry Tortugas, Florida

“ATRIS = Advanced Benthic Mapping”