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Volume 9
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Article

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

by
James Slingsby
1,*,
Beth E. Scott
2,
Louise Kregting
3,
Jason McIlvenny
1,
Jared Wilson
4,
Ana Couto
2,
Deon Roos
2,
Marion Yanez
5 and
Benjamin J. Williamson
1
1
Environmental Research Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Thurso KW14 7EE, UK
2
School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
3
Queen’s University Marine Laboratory, Queen’s University, Portaferry BT22 1PF, UK
4
Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, UK
5
Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, 69621 Lyon, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(5), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9050484
Submission received: 30 March 2021 / Revised: 19 April 2021 / Accepted: 29 April 2021 / Published: 30 April 2021
(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)
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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.
Keywords: turbulence; hydrodynamics; remote sensing; marine renewable energy; tidal energy turbulence; hydrodynamics; remote sensing; marine renewable energy; tidal energy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Slingsby, J.; Scott, B.E.; Kregting, L.; McIlvenny, J.; Wilson, J.; Couto, A.; Roos, D.; Yanez, M.; Williamson, B.J. Surface Characterisation of Kolk-Boils within Tidal Stream Environments Using UAV Imagery. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9, 484. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9050484

AMA Style

Slingsby J, Scott BE, Kregting L, McIlvenny J, Wilson J, Couto A, Roos D, Yanez M, Williamson BJ. Surface Characterisation of Kolk-Boils within Tidal Stream Environments Using UAV Imagery. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2021; 9(5):484. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9050484

Chicago/Turabian Style

Slingsby, James, Beth E. Scott, Louise Kregting, Jason McIlvenny, Jared Wilson, Ana Couto, Deon Roos, Marion Yanez, and Benjamin J. Williamson. 2021. "Surface Characterisation of Kolk-Boils within Tidal Stream Environments Using UAV Imagery" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 9, no. 5: 484. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9050484

APA Style

Slingsby, J., Scott, B. E., Kregting, L., McIlvenny, J., Wilson, J., Couto, A., Roos, D., Yanez, M., & Williamson, B. J. (2021). Surface Characterisation of Kolk-Boils within Tidal Stream Environments Using UAV Imagery. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9(5), 484. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9050484

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