U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2007–3100

2007

Florida Integrated Science Center, St. Petersburg, Florida

Mapping and Vessel-Based Capabilities

Printed on recycled paper

Research Vessel G.K. Gilbert—This 1993 research vessel is 

a 50-foot, semi-V-hulled Munson Hammerhead with a shallow, 

2.5-foot draft. The vessel can operate at 30 knots with three 

425-horsepower turbodiesels powering three quiet Hamilton Jets. 

With all exhaust outlets above the waterline, the vessel is relatively 

quiet, with an excellent acoustic signal-to-noise ratio to optimize 

survey data quality. The jet propulsion also eliminates propeller 

entanglement with sensor cables and improves shallow water 

access without damage to the boat. Fully-equipped, the R/V Gilbert 

can simultaneously run sidescan sonar imaging, swath bathymetry, 

high-resolution bathymetry, and three levels of seismic profiles, 

while maintaining coring and dive platform capabilities.

Houseboats—Two USGS houseboats serve as home base for 

biological monitoring and extended site-specific data collection. 

The houseboat, R/V Marjorie Douglas, is a 50-foot aluminum 

custom-built Clark Boat with 22-inch draft, 200-gallon freshwater 

carrying capacity, and a 10-day field range. The Marjorie Douglas 

has a wet-lab and can house a 4-person crew. Houseboats provide 

basic living facilities, onsite laboratories, 24-hour data collection, 

and eliminate travel time during extended field sessions. 

R/V Catboat—This 1999 research vessel is a 26-foot fiberglass Glacier Bay Coastal Runner with Twin Yamaha 115-horsepower engines and a cruising speed of 25 knots. It is used to 

perform shallow water and nearshore bathymetric surveys, sidescan 

sonar seafloor imaging, and swath bathymetry surveys. The vessel 

can cruise at 40 knots fully loaded, enabling daily surveys in large 

estuaries, lakes, bays, or rivers, and nearshore ocean environments 

that require long transits.

Scientists and engineers from USGS FISC in St. Petersburg prepare a 

sediment core barrel onboard the R/V Gilbert.

Research Facilities and Vessels

The USGS St. Petersburg office oversees facilities and vessels 

staffed by experts and equipped with the latest technology. Onshore 

labs, computers, and experts are on hand to help prepare, and then 

support the missions by analyzing and storing information.

Facilities include a fully operational shop, an electronics lab, 

sediment and core labs, a clean lab, a microbiology lab, and a biology lab. State of the art information technology support is available 

for computing, data analysis, archiving, and servers. Geographic 

Information System (GIS) and remote sensing capabilities and 

expertise are also housed at FISC in St. Petersburg.

Vessels and platforms are available to perform bathymetric 

surveys, sidescan sonar sea-floor imaging, sub-bottom seismic 

profiling, swath bathymetry surveys, and coring operations. Vessels 

also support scientific investigations on coral reefs, aquifers, water 

quality, coastal and benthic habitats, fish and turtle populations, 

underwater imaging, and assist with marine education. 

R/V Gilbert traveling to coring site in Tampa Bay, Florida.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists from the Florida 

Integrated Science Center (FISC) conduct scientific investigations 

of submerged coastal and marine resources using new and existing 

technologies. Each contributing technique, method, or product adds 

to our understanding of coastal and marine resources and provides 

information for resource-management decisionmaking. In support 

of this mission, the USGS St. Petersburg office maintains a fleet 

of research vessels used for inland, coastal, and open-water marine 

surveys and investigations. Each vessel has advantages and limitations related to water depth, carrying capacity, speed, operation 

in open water, and other functions. These research platforms are 

staffed by experienced technical and scientific professionals with 

expertise in marine navigation, geology, geophysics, engineering, 

biology, and oceanography. 
System for Accurate Nearshore Depth Surveys (SANDS)—

SANDS is an acoustic-based nearshore mapping system that was 

developed in St. Petersburg for operation from a shallow-draft boat 

in water to 30-foot depth. Single depth measurements are collected 

at 10 Hz, or approximately every 9-10 feet, along the survey path 

with a depth accuracy of 3-4 inches. Seafloor grids are produced 

from the depth measurement.

Mapping Technology

Scientific investigations by the USGS of ocean and coastal 

processes provide critical information for managing resources in 

a time of rapid change. Coastal and sea-floor investigations and 

mapping efforts rely on new and established technologies deployed 

from shipboard and airborne platforms throughout the United 

States. Technologies include state of the art navigation and computing systems, sonar technology, sediment and water sampling 

systems, and imaging systems.

Bathymetry, seafloor imagery, geologic cross-sections, water 

quality and coastal hazard assessments, biological studies, and 

maps of habitat and important resources are among the products. 

Combined, the techniques, maps, and scientific interpretations 

Pontoon barge carrying the Portable Auger Drilling System (PADS).

USGS technicians prepare the R/V Catboat for a shallow-water 

bathymetric survey.

Research Tools and Capabilities

Shallow-Water Vibracore—The vibracore rig is powered 

by an electric, motor-driven, eccentric-cam vibrator (Rossfelder 

model P3) to penetrate bottom sediments in waters 1-100 feet deep. 

Lowering the 800-pound rig to extract 20-foot sediment cores from 

the R/V Gilbert requires four crewmen and a Hiab SeaCrane. Cores 

are transported to the Sediment Lab in St. Petersburg, where they 

are split lengthwise and analyzed for stratigraphic horizons and 

sediment types to ground-truth seismic data. Alternatively, sediment cores are discretely sampled at various depths and analyzed 

for their chemical and biological properties. These data indicate the 

location of sand resources for barrier island and beach renourishment projects, and provide a historical record of deposition, storm 

records, and anthropogenic impacts.

USGS St. Petersburg scientists setting up a Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) 

Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

Vibracore system being lowered from the R/V Gilbert. The sediment 

core is used to ground-truth seismic data.

Pontoon Barges—The USGS has two identical pontoon 

barges; one is used as the primary transport vessel for the Portable 

Auger Drilling System (PADS), and the other is used to transport drilling gear and other supplies, as well as other projects and 

outreach activities.

Shallow Draft Boats—These small vessels powered by outboard motors, are used by the USGS for surveying and biological 

monitoring in tidal creeks and inland waterways.
provide insight into the state of our Nation’s resources as well as 

information for effective resource management.

USGS scientists use modern techniques for navigation and 

precise position of acquired data. Until recently, open-water 

navigation depended on celestial observations, coastal landmarks, 

radio beacons, or early satellite signals. Today the NAVSTAR 

GPS satellite constellation and GPS receivers are used for navigation. A GPS receiver onboard the ship receives broadcast signals 

from orbiting satellites and calculates ship position using time and 

range information.

Seafloor Imaging—A sidescan sonar system is designed to 

image the seafloor by transmitting sound energy and analyzing the 

return signal or echo that is reflected off of the seafloor, or from 

submerged objects. A tow fish transmits energy in a fan shape to both 

sides of the survey path. The shape and character of seabed features are 

displayed in gray-scale images. USGS scientists in St. Petersburg, FL 

use an EdgeTech digital sidescan sonar model DF 1000 mounted on a 

tow fish with an ISIS side-mounted transducer acquisition system.

Seismic Profiling—Seismic surveys map the details of 

sediment deposits and geologic structure below the seafloor. The 

seismic profiling technique passes sound waves from a towfish 

through the water column and into the seafloor. Three types of 

seismic sub-bottom profilers are used by the USGS:

•	 Seismic boomer: low-resolution deep-penetration

•	 512 CHIRP: high-resolution, medium penetration

•	 424 CHIRP: high-resolution, shallow penetration 

Jon boat towing seismic “boomer” equipment to map bathymetry of an 

inland canal in Florida.

Sonar Systems

Sound navigation and ranging (sonar) methods rely on 

bouncing sound waves off a target and intercepting the return 

signal. Several types of sonar devices are used to map water depths 

and sea floor characteristics.

Seafloor Bathymetry—Water depth is measured by a sonar 

system mounted on the boat. A swath sonar system uses the difference between two or more receivers to measure the range and angle 

of the target return signal. The USGS uses a high-resolution sonar 

system, which is effective for quick bathymetric measurements.

Bathymetric or water depth map created from single-beam 

soundings off Sarasota, Florida. 

Deployment of sidescan sonar system with fan-shaped path 

perpendicular to vessel track-line.

Seismic system collecting soundings from below seafloor.
Cooperative Partnerships

All USGS offices in Florida are part of the Florida Integrated 

Science Center (FISC). FISC offices work cooperatively to conduct 

scientific investigations. The USGS partners with Federal, State 

and local agencies, research and educational institutions, and 

nongovernment organizations to conduct collaborative research and 

produce interpretive products. Collaboration within the USGS and 

with external partners, expands and enhances existing resources 

such as vessels, lab facilities, equipment, and scientific expertise.

—Ellen A. Raabe and Lisa L. Robbins

USGS scientists from FISC offices collaborate on essential 

fish habitat research.

USGS and University of South Florida (USF) researchers deploy C3D 

sidescan systen to map water depth and bottom characteristics in the 

Gulf of Mexico.

Underwater Imaging

The USGS developed the Along Track Reef Imaging System 

(ATRIS), a boat-mounted instrument that acquires continuous digital images of shallow-marine substrates. This system is deployed 

on a small vessel and incorporates subsystems for navigation, 

real-time differential GPS positioning, autonomous digital camera 

benthic imaging, and acoustic bathymetric surveying.

Mapping with Airborne Sensors

Vessel-based mapping capabilities can be supplemented in 

nearshore and shallow coastal areas with airborne sensors such as 

laser altimetry, hyperspectral and thermal imaging. Where water is 

shallow or unnavigable, airborne sensors provide mapping capabilities without impacting sensitive resources.

USGS diver measures water clarity in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Hyperspectral image shows details of shallow bottom features at the 

entrance to Longboat Pass, Florida. Imagery courtesy of West Coast 

Inland Navigation District.

For Further Information:

Jack Kindinger Terry Kelley

Assoc. Director for Science Marine Operations Manager

727-803-8747 x3002 727-803-8747 x3050

jkindinger@usgs.gov tkelley@usgs.gov

 

 U.S. Geological Survey

 600 4th Street South

 St. Petersburg, FL 33701

FLaSH website: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/flash/

Capabilities website: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/capabilities/

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does 

not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government