Turning Images Into Ocean Data
Kim-Cogan's current research focuses on Botany Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where a camera collected images of the bay every half-second over a five-month period. The project generated several terabytes of data, capturing a wide range of ocean conditions, from calmer days to periods of rough weather and large waves.
His role involves a process called georectification, which transforms photographs into map-like views of the bay. By identifying known landmarks and aligning them with their geographic positions, Kim-Cogan helps create accurate representations of the water and surrounding coastline.
The process also presents challenges. Camera movement can affect the images, requiring additional stabilization to improve their accuracy. Kim-Cogan is working on refining the software so the images can be used to better visualize wave movement across the bay.
Once that process is complete, the research team hopes to combine the imagery with measurements collected by wave buoys and pressure sensors positioned throughout the area. Together, these sources of data could help researchers better understand how waves travel through the bay and change direction as they approach the coastline.
The project has the potential to become a significant part of Kim-Cogan's academic future. Through SIO's bachelor's-to-master's program, he hopes to continue the work as a graduate student, developing it into a master's thesis and potentially contributing to a scientific publication.
