Extreme ecosystem studies in the deep ocean
Technological developments

 

      

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The general objective of EXOCET/D is to develop, implement and test specific instruments aimed at exploring, describing, quantifying and monitoring biodiversity in deep-sea fragmented habitats as well as at identifying links between community structure and environmental dynamics. Onboard experimental devices will complement the approach, enabling experiments on species physiology.

The EXOCET/D working fields include: video and acoustic imagery, in situ analysis of physico-chemical factors, quantitative sampling of macro- and micro-organisms, in vivo experiments, integration of multidisciplinary data, implementation on European deep-submersibles and a final phase of technical and scientific validation.


Keywords

Deep sea * ecosystem * imagery * in situ analysis * faunal sampling * submersibles * observatory.
 

Project organisation

EXOCET/D is a three-year project starting in 2004 and funded by the European Commission.

 It involves partners from ten research institutions and three small and medium enterprises. It is organised in seven tasks or "workpackages" (WP) and follows different thematic areas. 3 WP are dedicated to the development of a specific instrumentation, 2 WP are dealing with integration of tools or data and the last one is a final demonstration action (WP7) aiming at evaluating the instrumentation developed during the project.

 
video and acoustic imagery;
in situ analyses of habitat chemical and physical components;
quantitative sampling of macro- and microorganisms, in vivo experiments;
integration of multidisciplinary data;
instrument implementation on deep-submersibles;
scientific validation during demonstration actions.

 

The workpackages

The objective of the first WP is to manage and coordinate the project through a Management steering comittee and a Scientific and Technic Network.

 
WP2 - Quantitative imaging
WP3 - In situ sensing, analysis and water sampling
WP4 -Quantitative sampling of macro- and microorganisms, in vivo experiments
WP5- Instrumentation integration and compatibility, interfaces
WP6 - Data management tool: sub metric scale 4D data visualisation
WP7- Demonstration action
 

THE RESULTS (October 2007)

Final activity summary
Disseminating knowledge

Automatic lightning condition methods 2D1

2D image mosaic building  2D3
Wrapping of 2D image mosaics on 3D DTM: 3D Image Mosaics(3DIM) 2D4
Self-calibrated stereo measurement 2D5
Feasability for enhancement of  3DIM and surface measurement by combining 
3D image mosaic and stereo measurement techniques” 2D6
Long term imaging module specifications 2D12
Deep water test report 2D18
Specification of chemical analyzer, water sampler, methane and flow sensor 3D1
Testing and deployment reports of accompanying and field tests 3D5
PERISCOP 4D4
AISICS 4D5
DESEARE 4D6
Compilation of documentation for interface specifications and tool sharing 
for scientific instrumentations 5D1
Specifications for data management tool 6D1

Cruise reports 7D2

The MoMARETO cruise