At a glance
- New uncrewed surface vessel is helping change the way underwater surveys are conducted at OPG's hydro stations.
- Called the Otter, the cutting-edge machine assists in the production of precise topographical mapping of underwater features.
- The nifty vessel is helping ensure safe operations at OPG's hydro sites, as well as assisting with environmental monitoring.
A remote-controlled vessel called the Otter is making waves at a few of OPG's hydroelectric generating stations and providing a deeper look at what's under the surface.
The 62-kilogram uncrewed surface vessel (USV) arrived this spring at OPG's Central Civil Engineering office. It's now changing the way underwater surveys, also known as bathymetric surveys, are conducted at OPG's hydro sites.
Measuring only two metres long and one metre wide, the machine uses a Multibeam Echosounder sonar system to perform high-resolution hydrographic surveys. This advanced system enables rapid and precise mapping of underwater features, producing detailed models of river and lake beds.
These surveys ultimately help OPG enhance their ability to predict potential water flows at their sites and assess the capacity of dams to handle extreme inflow events, supporting dam safety.
Using a sonar system, the Otter can perform high-resolution hydrographic surveys to produce rapid and precise mapping of underwater features.
The USV also plays a vital role in environmental inspections, such as identifying fish spawning habitats and monitoring erosion.
Traditionally, bathymetric surveys have been conducted using crewed boats. While this approach is effective, it also comes with limitations as crewed surveys can't venture into hazardous flow areas, require a suitable boat launch, and need deeper water to operate safely.
OPG workers pose with the Otter uncrewed surface vessel.
The innovative Otter has no such limitations, as the vessel can be hand-launched from virtually any location and wade into previously unreachable or hazardous areas. Most importantly, the USV makes surveys much safer because OPG's surveyors are no longer required to be on the water.
Since its arrival, the Otter has already been deployed at OPG's Lower Notch Generating Station (GS), Calabogie GS, Barrett Chute GS, Elliot Chute GS, DeCew Falls I GS, Little Long GS, and the Adam Creek sluiceway. There are plans to send the Otter to more dams, including DeCew Falls II GS, Alexander GS, Bark Lake Dam, and others in the coming months.
