Surface Characterisation of Kolk-Boils within Tidal Stream Environments Using UAV Imagery

James Slingsby; Beth E. Scott; Louise Kregting; Jason McIlvenny; Jared Wilson; Ana Sofia Silva Couto; Deon Roos; Marion Yanez; Benjamin J. Wilson

doi:10.3390/jmse9050484

Surface Characterisation of Kolk-Boils within Tidal Stream Environments Using UAV Imagery

James Slingsby^* (Corresponding Author), Beth E. Scott, Louise Kregting, Jason McIlvenny, Jared Wilson, Ana Sofia Silva Couto, Deon Roos, Marion Yanez, Benjamin J. Wilson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

High-flow tidal stream environments, targeted for tidal turbine installations, exhibit turbulent features, at fine spatio-temporal scales (metres and seconds), created by site-specific topography and bathymetry. Bed-derived turbulent features (kolk-boils) are thought to have detrimental effects on tidal turbines. Characterisation of kolk-boils is therefore essential to inform turbine reliability, control, and maintenance strategies. It will also improve the understanding of potential ecological interactions with turbines, as marine animals use these sites for foraging. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, imagery offers a novel approach to take precise measurements of kolk-boil characteristics (distribution, presence, and area) at the surface. This study carried out sixty-three UAV surveys within the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, Scotland, UK, over four-day periods in 2016 and 2018. Kolk-boil characteristics were examined against relevant environmental covariates to investigate potential drivers of presence and area. The results show that distribution at the surface could be predicted based on tidal phase, with current velocity significantly influencing presence above 3.0 m/s. The technique can be used to inform turbine development, micro-siting and provide better understanding of environmental implications of turbine operation. Finally, it highlights the suitability of UAVs for capturing rapid fine-scale hydrodynamic data in the absence of in situ measurements.

Original language	English
Article number	484
Number of pages	21
Journal	Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Volume	9
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9050484
Publication status	Published - 30 Apr 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding: This work was funded by the Bryden Centre project, supported by the European Union’s IN- TERREG VA Programme, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The views and opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission or SE- UPB. Aspects of this research were also funded by a Royal Society Research Grant [RSG\R1\180430], the NERC VertIBase project [NE/N01765X/1] and the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s offshore energy Strategic Environmental Assessment programme.

Data Availability Statement
The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge the support of Julien Martin, colleagues at Marine Scotland Science and the crew and scientists of the MRV Scotia 2016 and 2018 cruises (particularly Chief Scientists Eric Armstrong and Adrian Tait). We also acknowledge the work contributed by ERI interns: Gael Gelis and Martin Forestier.

Keywords

turbulence
hydrodynamics
remote sensing
marine renewable energy
tidal energy

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "Surface Characterisation of Kolk-Boils within Tidal Stream Environments Using UAV Imagery",

abstract = "High-flow tidal stream environments, targeted for tidal turbine installations, exhibit turbulent features, at fine spatio-temporal scales (metres and seconds), created by site-specific topography and bathymetry. Bed-derived turbulent features (kolk-boils) are thought to have detrimental effects on tidal turbines. Characterisation of kolk-boils is therefore essential to inform turbine reliability, control, and maintenance strategies. It will also improve the understanding of potential ecological interactions with turbines, as marine animals use these sites for foraging. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, imagery offers a novel approach to take precise measurements of kolk-boil characteristics (distribution, presence, and area) at the surface. This study carried out sixty-three UAV surveys within the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, Scotland, UK, over four-day periods in 2016 and 2018. Kolk-boil characteristics were examined against relevant environmental covariates to investigate potential drivers of presence and area. The results show that distribution at the surface could be predicted based on tidal phase, with current velocity significantly influencing presence above 3.0 m/s. The technique can be used to inform turbine development, micro-siting and provide better understanding of environmental implications of turbine operation. Finally, it highlights the suitability of UAVs for capturing rapid fine-scale hydrodynamic data in the absence of in situ measurements.",

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author = "James Slingsby and Scott, {Beth E.} and Louise Kregting and Jason McIlvenny and Jared Wilson and {Silva Couto}, {Ana Sofia} and Deon Roos and Marion Yanez and Wilson, {Benjamin J.}",

note = "Funding: This work was funded by the Bryden Centre project, supported by the European Union{\textquoteright}s IN- TERREG VA Programme, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The views and opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission or SE- UPB. Aspects of this research were also funded by a Royal Society Research Grant [RSG\R1\180430], the NERC VertIBase project [NE/N01765X/1] and the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy{\textquoteright}s offshore energy Strategic Environmental Assessment programme. Data Availability Statement The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author. Acknowledgments We gratefully acknowledge the support of Julien Martin, colleagues at Marine Scotland Science and the crew and scientists of the MRV Scotia 2016 and 2018 cruises (particularly Chief Scientists Eric Armstrong and Adrian Tait). We also acknowledge the work contributed by ERI interns: Gael Gelis and Martin Forestier. ",

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AU - Scott, Beth E.

AU - Kregting, Louise

AU - McIlvenny, Jason

AU - Wilson, Jared

AU - Silva Couto, Ana Sofia

AU - Roos, Deon

AU - Yanez, Marion

AU - Wilson, Benjamin J.

N1 - Funding: This work was funded by the Bryden Centre project, supported by the European Union’s IN- TERREG VA Programme, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The views and opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission or SE- UPB. Aspects of this research were also funded by a Royal Society Research Grant [RSG\R1\180430], the NERC VertIBase project [NE/N01765X/1] and the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s offshore energy Strategic Environmental Assessment programme. Data Availability Statement The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author. Acknowledgments We gratefully acknowledge the support of Julien Martin, colleagues at Marine Scotland Science and the crew and scientists of the MRV Scotia 2016 and 2018 cruises (particularly Chief Scientists Eric Armstrong and Adrian Tait). We also acknowledge the work contributed by ERI interns: Gael Gelis and Martin Forestier.

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N2 - High-flow tidal stream environments, targeted for tidal turbine installations, exhibit turbulent features, at fine spatio-temporal scales (metres and seconds), created by site-specific topography and bathymetry. Bed-derived turbulent features (kolk-boils) are thought to have detrimental effects on tidal turbines. Characterisation of kolk-boils is therefore essential to inform turbine reliability, control, and maintenance strategies. It will also improve the understanding of potential ecological interactions with turbines, as marine animals use these sites for foraging. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, imagery offers a novel approach to take precise measurements of kolk-boil characteristics (distribution, presence, and area) at the surface. This study carried out sixty-three UAV surveys within the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, Scotland, UK, over four-day periods in 2016 and 2018. Kolk-boil characteristics were examined against relevant environmental covariates to investigate potential drivers of presence and area. The results show that distribution at the surface could be predicted based on tidal phase, with current velocity significantly influencing presence above 3.0 m/s. The technique can be used to inform turbine development, micro-siting and provide better understanding of environmental implications of turbine operation. Finally, it highlights the suitability of UAVs for capturing rapid fine-scale hydrodynamic data in the absence of in situ measurements.

AB - High-flow tidal stream environments, targeted for tidal turbine installations, exhibit turbulent features, at fine spatio-temporal scales (metres and seconds), created by site-specific topography and bathymetry. Bed-derived turbulent features (kolk-boils) are thought to have detrimental effects on tidal turbines. Characterisation of kolk-boils is therefore essential to inform turbine reliability, control, and maintenance strategies. It will also improve the understanding of potential ecological interactions with turbines, as marine animals use these sites for foraging. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, imagery offers a novel approach to take precise measurements of kolk-boil characteristics (distribution, presence, and area) at the surface. This study carried out sixty-three UAV surveys within the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, Scotland, UK, over four-day periods in 2016 and 2018. Kolk-boil characteristics were examined against relevant environmental covariates to investigate potential drivers of presence and area. The results show that distribution at the surface could be predicted based on tidal phase, with current velocity significantly influencing presence above 3.0 m/s. The technique can be used to inform turbine development, micro-siting and provide better understanding of environmental implications of turbine operation. Finally, it highlights the suitability of UAVs for capturing rapid fine-scale hydrodynamic data in the absence of in situ measurements.

KW - turbulence

KW - hydrodynamics

KW - remote sensing

KW - marine renewable energy

KW - tidal energy

U2 - 10.3390/jmse9050484

DO - 10.3390/jmse9050484

M3 - Article

SN - 2077-1312

VL - 9

JO - Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

JF - Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

IS - 5

M1 - 484

ER -

Surface Characterisation of Kolk-Boils within Tidal Stream Environments Using UAV Imagery

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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