Underwater Research Camera Systems

Live underwater camera systems, such as those developed by Seavu, support a range of non intrusive marine research methods, allowing researchers to observe, document, and record underwater environments without the need for continuous diving.

Commonly supported methods include:

• Towed video surveys for broad scale habitat mapping and transect based studies
• Fixed position monitoring for site specific observation and temporal change detection
• Shallow water surveys where diving access is limited or environmentally disruptive
• Rapid field validation to confirm habitat type, species presence, and survey quality in real time
• Repeatable monitoring using consistent camera height, angle, and survey speed

Live viewing enables immediate adjustment of camera position and survey parameters in the field, improving data quality and reducing the likelihood of incomplete or unusable datasets.

Yes. Live underwater camera systems are widely used in seagrass research and monitoring to assess seagrass presence, distribution, density, and condition. Real time viewing allows researchers to confirm habitat characteristics in the field before completing surveys or leaving a site.

Yes. Live camera systems can be deployed in towed survey configurations, where the camera is moved slowly over seagrass beds to assess spatial distribution and habitat extent. Towed surveys are well suited to covering larger areas efficiently while maintaining visual control of survey speed and camera orientation.

Yes. Live underwater cameras can be deployed in a fixed position, such as mounted to a frame, pole, or weighted base. Fixed deployments are commonly used to monitor:

• Seagrass recovery and growth
• Grazing and physical disturbance
• Sediment movement and resuspension
• Species interactions within a defined area

Live viewing supports accurate placement and framing prior to data collection.

Towed camera surveys are generally used to characterise spatial patterns and habitat distribution, while fixed camera deployments focus on detailed observation at a specific location over time. Many research programs use both methods to address different study objectives within the same project.

Live underwater camera systems, including Seavu systems, are commonly used to support ground truthing, where visual observations are used to validate data collected through remote sensing, acoustic surveys, or predictive habitat models.

Real time viewing allows researchers to:

• Confirm habitat type and substrate classification
• Verify seagrass presence, density, and condition
• Validate sonar, bathymetry, or aerial survey data
• Ensure survey locations align with planned transects or sampling points

By providing immediate visual confirmation in the field, live underwater cameras help reduce uncertainty and improve confidence in interpreted datasets.

Yes. Live camera systems are particularly suitable for shallow water environments, where diving may be impractical, unsafe, or environmentally disruptive. Cameras can be positioned accurately with minimal disturbance to sensitive habitats such as seagrass and soft sediments.

Live underwater cameras are used across a broad range of marine research and monitoring activities, including:

• Seagrass, kelp, and macroalgae studies
• Benthic habitat and substrate surveys
• Reef and reef edge observation
• Species behaviour and interaction studies
• Environmental impact and baseline assessments
• Marine infrastructure and asset inspections
• Education, training, and field demonstration

Yes. Live viewing enables researchers to verify camera orientation, height, survey speed, framing, and visibility conditions in real time. This improves consistency and helps ensure that collected footage meets study requirements.

Yes. Live underwater camera systems typically allow footage to be recorded for post field analysis, including review, annotation, classification, and reporting. Recorded footage also supports comparison across repeat surveys and long term monitoring programs.

Yes. Live camera systems support repeatable and standardised survey methods, where consistent camera positioning, depth, and movement are required. This is important for monitoring environmental change, habitat condition, and recovery over time.

Yes. Live underwater camera systems are designed for saltwater field research and are commonly deployed from small vessels, research boats, and pontoons in coastal and nearshore environments. Systems such as Seavu are built specifically for repeated use in marine conditions and regular field deployment.