ORCA
Central to the SPEC Lab’s water-based data collection efforts is the Ocean-Research Command And Control Station (ORCA). Build 1 was completed in early 2025 and is based on a customized Sundance B22 Skiff, featuring a dedicated drone launch and recovery platform along with advanced communications capabilities. Powered by a 115 HP Suzuki engine, the ORCA provides rapid access to remote coastal zones, while its 6-inch draft allows navigation into extremely shallow areas that are inaccessible to larger deeper-draft vessels.
Measuring 21 feet 10 inches in length with a 94-inch beam, the vessel is optimized for shallow-water operations and serves as a versatile platform for a wide range of field research applications. It is equipped with a comprehensive suite of navigation and safety systems, including a keel guard, and GPS+VHF w/DSC 25-watt radios, Automatic Identification System (AIS), emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), multi-sensor bathymetry sonar, and satellite internet connectivity. Build 2 will introduce additional enhancements to support advanced drone-based and in-situ data collection workflows. Planned upgrades include dual shallow-water anchors (Power Pole Blades) and an engine jack plate, further expanding the vessel’s operability in dynamic nearshore environments. These tools ensure operational safety and data connectivity even in areas with limited infrastructure.
The ORCA plays a key role in enabling critical SPEC Lab / GatorEye research across some of Florida’s most ecologically significant and least-disturbed coastal zones. Designed specifically by the GatorEye team for mid- to shallow-water drone operations, the platform supports investigations focused on mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems. The vessel is also being evaluated for deployment of laterally mounted bathymetric sonar, enhancing its functionality for high-resolution underwater mapping.
The ORCA is central to long-term ecosystem monitoring initiatives, particularly through its integration into the BigPlotNetwork for multi-temporal assessment of hurricane impacts. Data collected from these efforts are used for calibration and validation of the lab’s StormCloud system, advancing predictive modeling and understanding of coastal disturbance and resilience.
Measuring 21 feet 10 inches in length with a 94-inch beam, the vessel is optimized for shallow-water operations and serves as a versatile platform for a wide range of field research applications. It is equipped with a comprehensive suite of navigation and safety systems, including a keel guard, and GPS+VHF w/DSC 25-watt radios, Automatic Identification System (AIS), emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), multi-sensor bathymetry sonar, and satellite internet connectivity. Build 2 will introduce additional enhancements to support advanced drone-based and in-situ data collection workflows. Planned upgrades include dual shallow-water anchors (Power Pole Blades) and an engine jack plate, further expanding the vessel’s operability in dynamic nearshore environments. These tools ensure operational safety and data connectivity even in areas with limited infrastructure.
The ORCA plays a key role in enabling critical SPEC Lab / GatorEye research across some of Florida’s most ecologically significant and least-disturbed coastal zones. Designed specifically by the GatorEye team for mid- to shallow-water drone operations, the platform supports investigations focused on mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems. The vessel is also being evaluated for deployment of laterally mounted bathymetric sonar, enhancing its functionality for high-resolution underwater mapping.
The ORCA is central to long-term ecosystem monitoring initiatives, particularly through its integration into the BigPlotNetwork for multi-temporal assessment of hurricane impacts. Data collected from these efforts are used for calibration and validation of the lab’s StormCloud system, advancing predictive modeling and understanding of coastal disturbance and resilience.
Image source: Sundance B22 Skiff - Sundance Boats
Big Bend Florida - focus region A
Stretching over 150 miles from Cedar Key to Apalachicola, Florida, the Big Bend coast stands as one of the most expansive and undeveloped coastal regions in the continental United States. This area features vast stretches of shoreline where some towns are separated by more than 50 miles of uninhabited land, fostering the northward expansion of black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) due to rising temperatures and fewer freeze events. This transformation is creating a critical ecological transition zone between temperate salt marshes and subtropical mangrove forests.
The biodiversity within this evolving landscape is remarkable. The intermingling of mangroves and salt marshes forms diverse habitats that support a wide array of species. Economically and ecologically important fish and crustaceans, such as red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), snook (Centropomus undecimalis), blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), and tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), utilize these areas as vital nursery grounds. Additionally, the region provides nesting and foraging habitats for numerous bird species, including the roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) and reddish egret (Egretta rufescens). The complex root systems of mangroves also offer shelter to various reptiles and invertebrates, enhancing the overall ecological richness.
Beyond supporting biodiversity, mangroves play a significant role in carbon sequestration. Their dense root networks facilitate the accumulation of organic-rich soils, effectively trapping substantial amounts of carbon below ground. Studies have shown that mangrove expansion increases lignin-rich woody material in the soil, leading to enhanced organic carbon preservation.
The structural complexity of mangrove forests also provides a natural defense against coastal erosion and storm surges. During hurricanes, mangroves can reduce wave energy and trap sediments, thereby protecting inland areas from flooding and damage. For instance, mangroves in Florida have been shown to avert significant storm damages, offering substantial economic benefits by protecting properties and communities.
The Big Bend coast’s relative isolation and minimal human interference make it an invaluable natural laboratory for studying ecological processes, climate adaptation, and the dynamics of coastal resilience. As mangroves continue to migrate northward, understanding their interactions with existing ecosystems, their role in carbon dynamics, and their influence on coastal protection becomes increasingly crucial. This knowledge is essential for informing conservation strategies and ensuring the sustainability of these vital coastal habitats in the face of environmental change.
Accessing the remote Big Bend coast, stretching over 150 miles from Cedar Key to Apalachicola, Florida, presents unique challenges due to its remote settings, coastal (< 3 miles from shore) transit requirements, combined with shallow waters, tidal flats, oyster beds, changing river and mangrove bathymetry, and limited infrastructure. The Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab (SPEC Lab) employs ORCA to navigate these conditions safely and effectively.
The biodiversity within this evolving landscape is remarkable. The intermingling of mangroves and salt marshes forms diverse habitats that support a wide array of species. Economically and ecologically important fish and crustaceans, such as red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), snook (Centropomus undecimalis), blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), and tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), utilize these areas as vital nursery grounds. Additionally, the region provides nesting and foraging habitats for numerous bird species, including the roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) and reddish egret (Egretta rufescens). The complex root systems of mangroves also offer shelter to various reptiles and invertebrates, enhancing the overall ecological richness.
Beyond supporting biodiversity, mangroves play a significant role in carbon sequestration. Their dense root networks facilitate the accumulation of organic-rich soils, effectively trapping substantial amounts of carbon below ground. Studies have shown that mangrove expansion increases lignin-rich woody material in the soil, leading to enhanced organic carbon preservation.
The structural complexity of mangrove forests also provides a natural defense against coastal erosion and storm surges. During hurricanes, mangroves can reduce wave energy and trap sediments, thereby protecting inland areas from flooding and damage. For instance, mangroves in Florida have been shown to avert significant storm damages, offering substantial economic benefits by protecting properties and communities.
The Big Bend coast’s relative isolation and minimal human interference make it an invaluable natural laboratory for studying ecological processes, climate adaptation, and the dynamics of coastal resilience. As mangroves continue to migrate northward, understanding their interactions with existing ecosystems, their role in carbon dynamics, and their influence on coastal protection becomes increasingly crucial. This knowledge is essential for informing conservation strategies and ensuring the sustainability of these vital coastal habitats in the face of environmental change.
Accessing the remote Big Bend coast, stretching over 150 miles from Cedar Key to Apalachicola, Florida, presents unique challenges due to its remote settings, coastal (< 3 miles from shore) transit requirements, combined with shallow waters, tidal flats, oyster beds, changing river and mangrove bathymetry, and limited infrastructure. The Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab (SPEC Lab) employs ORCA to navigate these conditions safely and effectively.
