Current Projects

Automated Lagrangian Water Quality Assessment System (ALWAS)

Automated Lagrangian Water Quality Assessment System (ALWAS)

In partnership with Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI), the MHL designed and fabricated two ALWAS (Automated Lagrangian Water-Quality Assessment System) buoys. These drifter buoys are designed for the harsh environment of Alaska and the Great Lakes. The buoys have three propulsion modes, drift with current, wind power and a radio controlled jet drive. Each buoy contains a sensor package for measuring temperature, conductivity, TDS, turbidity, pH, ORP, DO, nitrates, chlorophyll, and depth, as well as a GPS to record the time and location of each data point. The data collected is both stored on board as well as transmitted in real-time via a spread spectrum radio link. All ALWAS buoy data is instantly GIS compatible.

ALWAS Lake Investigations on the North Slope

In Collaboration with the Alaska Bureau of Land Management, Department of Energy, ConocoPhillips and the North Slope Science Initiative the ALWAS buoys were deployed in 16 surface lakes as well as the Coleville River located in North Slope, Alaska. The buoys were deployed by helicopter over a distance of 120 km for Conoco-Phillip's Alpine facility. These data will be used to determine the impact of the construction and usage of ice roads on the surface, tundra lakes of the North Slope.

ALWAS Deployment on the Bering Glacier

ALWAS was deployed in 11 separate locations in Vitus Lake as well as the Seal River, where the free floating buoys were used to characterize water quality and movement. The ALWAS buoys measured location (latitude/longitude), speed, pH, DO, salinity, conductivity, water depth, TDS, ORP, turbidity, and chlorides. The data collected was used to better understand how changes in the glacier affect the hydrological environment which in turn determines the habitat of the flora and fauna that defines the unique ecology of the region.

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