Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU | G18AS00029

Opportunity Information: Apply for G18AS00029

This grant opportunity, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G18AS00029), was offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center under the Department of the Interior. It was a discretionary science and technology research and development award made through a cooperative agreement, meaning the work would likely involve close collaboration with USGS during the project. The opportunity was created on March 21, 2018, with an original application deadline of April 5, 2018. USGS anticipated making a single award, with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $385,000. The related CFDA program number listed for the funding was 15.808. Eligibility was not broadly open to all applicants; it was categorized as "Others," with specific eligibility details referenced in the full announcement under an additional eligibility section.

The main purpose of the project was to develop a robot-assisted computer vision system that can photograph the lake bottom and then automatically pull meaningful scientific and management information from those images. The concept combines two core pieces: (1) an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that would be provided by USGS, and (2) computer algorithms that can interpret imagery collected by the AUV. The AUV would need to be customized or configured to reliably collect high-quality stereo imagery and assemble it into well-lit, sharply focused photo mosaics of the lakebed. Stereo imaging is important because it supports depth perception and 3D reconstruction, which can improve measurements of habitat structure and help estimate volumes and complexity rather than relying only on flat, 2D photographs.

On the analysis side, the project called for computer vision methods capable of detecting and quantifying several specific biological and physical lake-bottom attributes. The priority biological targets included estimating densities of round goby and other bottom-dwelling (benthic) fishes. Round goby is a well-known invasive species in the Great Lakes, so being able to survey its abundance efficiently and consistently is a practical management need. Another key target was Cladophora, a filamentous green algae that can form nuisance blooms; the system was expected not just to note its presence, but to estimate how much water volume it occupies, which implies a more advanced capability than simple classification. In addition, the system was intended to characterize bottom habitat type and measure topographic complexity, which are important indicators of habitat condition and suitability for different species and can also reflect changes driven by invasive species or nutrient enrichment.

The broader value of the work was framed around giving managers better tools to answer real-world questions about invasive species impacts, eutrophication, and lake-bottom habitat condition. By automating data collection with an AUV and automating interpretation with computer vision, the project aimed to produce repeatable, scalable monitoring data that would be difficult, expensive, or time-consuming to gather with diver surveys or manual image review alone. The end result envisioned by the opportunity was an integrated field-and-analysis system that could routinely generate quantitative lakebed information to support Great Lakes research and management decisions.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 21, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 05, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $385,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G18AS00029

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