Turbine Lander Deployment in Sequim Bay (2023-2024): Optical and Sonar Records of Animal Interactions

This dataset contains environmental monitoring data collected during the deployment of the Turbine Lander, a small-scale vertical-axis, cross-flow turbine (1.19 m x 0.85 m) in the inlet to Sequim Bay, Washington. The turbine was deployed for 141 days between October 2023 and March 2024. Data were collected with an Adaptable Monitoring Package that included an acoustic Doppler current profiler, BlueView and Tritech Gemini imaging sonars, stereo optical cameras with artificial illumination, and a hydrophone array. Operational measurements from the turbine, including rotor speed, generator torque, and power output, were also recorded.

Manual review, primarily of the optical images, was used to identify over 1000 events with animals (fish, seals, and birds) in the vicinity of the Turbine Lander. These events cover day and nighttime videos with the rotor both stationary and rotating (during periods with relatively strong currents). Manually reviewed optical images were used to create videos that were subsequently reviewed, categorized, and condensed into the set of videos included here. Supporting .csv files include start/end times, detection class (e.g., fish, bird, seal), notes, inflow speed, turbine operating state, and other ancillary data. The .csv files cover all events identified in review of data acquired during the project, although videos are not included for every event. Events that were excluded corresponded to low frame rate sampling (1 Hz) or partially captured events for which the videos did not provide significant information. The videos that are included (over 600) are otherwise included without judgement as to their value. Videos are lumped together by taxonomic grouping and, if relevant, interpretation of the events (e.g., rotor rotating or stationary) or behavior (e.g., evasion/collision for fish).

A subset including 147 of the events identified manually was extended to include co-temporal videos of the events from BlueView and Tritech Gemini sonars. A limited subset of 68 events includes videos from multiple sensors. These videos are included along with a .xlsx file that summarizes each event and include qualitative information regarding what was observed in the sonars. Note that this subset of videos includes examples in with a broad range of outcomes including (1) sonars provided new information when compared to optical cameras alone (e.g., additional targets were detected outside of the camera field of view), (2) sonar images contained event related information but were difficult to interpret, and (3) the event in the optical camera data was not clearly observed in the sonars.

The submission consists of two main archives: one containing optical videos for all reviewed events, and another with optical and sonar videos for the subset of 147 events. Additional information about the Turbine Lander and the broader data collection effort, as well as a links to more turbine data and reports, can be found via the resources below below.

Data acquisition and AMP operation on the Turbine Lander was supported by the TEAMER RFTS 7 (request for technical support) program. Additional analysis of data was supported by the Water Power Technologies Office (DE-EE0007827). Data were collected and analyzed with support from staff at the University of Washington and MarineSitu.