Argus Development and Support
Rob Holman
SECNAV/CNO Chair in Oceanography
COAS-OSU
104 Ocean Admin Bldg
Corvallis, OR 97331-5503
phone: (541) 737-2914 fax: (541) 737-2064 email: holman@coas.oregonstate.edu
Award #: N00014-02-1-0146
http://cil-www.coas.oregonstate.edu:8080
LONG-TERM GOAL
The long-term goal of neashore processes research has been to develop a predictive understanding of
the fluid dynamics of a random wave field shoaling over the complicated bathymetry of a natural
beach, and the response of the beach to those overlying wave and current motions. Due to the
complexity and nonlinearities of the system, predictions at most time scales depend on frequent data
updates, likely acquired through innovative remote sensing techniques. The Argus Program,
developed by the Coastal Imaging Lab (CIL), is one such approach
(http://cil-www.coas.oregonstate.edu:8080). Technology developments in Argus are important to a
range of nearshore dynamics research programs and apply readily to other remote sensing programs of
Naval interest.
OBJECTIVES
Argus is a global program, with 12 stations in 5 countries. While the program was invented at Oregon
State University and we continue to be the intellectual lead, major complementary development
programs have begun in Europe (Netherlands and England), the US (NRL-SSC) and Australia. With
the research benefit associated with these efforts come corresponding complications of organizing and
maintaining coherency among the groups. This is particularly true in Europe where research is funded
as part of the three-year EU CoastView program.
The objectives of the work in this grant are threefold:
a) to provide support for operations including replacement parts and maintenance to cover normal
system attrition, as well as mirrored archive with Stennis Space Center
b) to allow the design and testing of the third generation Argus Station based around digital firewire
cameras and all-digital networks, and
c) to maintain connections and coherency with other world Argus developers.
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30 SEP 2004
00-00-2004 to 00-00-2004
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Argus Development and Support
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SECNAV/CNO Chair in Oceanography,,COAS-OSU,104 Ocean Admin
Bldg,,Corvallis,,OR,97331
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APPROACH
This work continues to involve reactive and proactive components. The reactive component involves:
i) replacement of failing system components, primarily by shipping parts to colleagues and tutoring the
fix by phone or email, ii) bug recovery usually associated with changes in firewalls or other aspects of
site infrastructure, and iii) response to a wide range of queries and requests from collaborators. The
proactive component involves: a) improvements in the system, particularly the development of the
new, digital Argus III, b) improvements in operations and development of new base-level routines and
techniques that are the foundation of Argus, and c) communications among the Argus user community
to encourage and align ongoing development. In addition, this grant supports regular operations,
although these and almost entirely automated at this stage.
WORK COMPLETED
Now in its third year, the primary activity has been the development and testing of the digital Argus III
stations, prior to replacement of each of the existing Argus II stations. An initial FireWire
configuration was used during the recent NCEX field experiment in Southern California. While quite
successful, several lessons were learned about the idiosyncrasies of FireWire and we have now revised
the design of Argus III. In particular, we have settled on a standard camera with few internal smarts,
such that all aspects of the imaging process remain under our control. This version is being tested at
several sites.
One of the test sites has been the Hinsdale Wave Lab at Oregon State University (the first laboratory
installation of Argus). This installation has provided rigorous tests of the new system, in part because
much higher sampling frequencies were required for the smaller-scale lab waves.
We have also partially transitioned our image processing algorithms from an older approach to
photogrammetry to methods based on homogeneous coordinates [Hartley and Zisserman, 2003], that
should offer many advantages and simplifications. For example, figure 1 shows a merged oblique
image from the new Hinsdale Wave Lab Argus Station that is easily accomplished with homogeneous
coordinates.
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Figure 1. Merged oblique image of the Hinsdale Wave Lab. This image was created by projecting
the views from each of the three station cameras into the projective geometry of the middle camera,
a task simplified through the use of homogeneous coordinates.
The CIL has also hosted Argus User workshops on an 18-month basis. The sixth such workshop was
held in Oregon in August, 2004 and drew 42 attendees from 5 countries.
IMPACT/APPLICATION
Argus has become increasing important in Europe and Australia, with installations now in seven
countries over three continents and serious Argus research in five countries. Approximately 35
stations are now in operation. Within the US, Argus and associated spin-offs will play a major role in
the NCEX field experiment, now in progress. Argus is also an increasingly important part of Naval
nearshore remote sensing research, for example in the VISSER program, run by Dr. Todd Holland at
NRL-Stennis Space Center.
TRANSITIONS
Aspects of Argus research development have been integrated in Naval nearshore remote sensing
programs through the PI’s connections to the LRS program. Transition to the WSC of some of these
results is ongoing or complete as of the time of writing.
RELATED PROJECTS
1 - Joint work with Dr. Todd Holland, NRL-SSC
2 – Collaboration with WSC personnel at Navoceano (headed by Melody Bledsoe and Houston
Costolo) on nearshore remote sensing
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3 – LRS program collaboration
4 – EU CoastView Program (2002 – 2005)
5 – Numerous collaborations with the Field Research Facility
6 – Participation in the NCEX field experiment, 09/19/03 – 11/15/03
7 – Collaboration with the Ocean Engineering Group at OSU
REFERENCES
Hartley, R., and A. Zisserman, Multiple view geometry in computer vision, 665 pp., Cambridge
University Press, 2003.
PUBLICATIONS
Holman, R.A. Stanley, J.A, and H.T. Özkan-Haller, The application of video sensor networks to the
study of nearshore oceanography, IEEE Journal of Pervasive Computing, 2(4), 14-21, 2003.
PATENTS
None
HONORS/AWARDS/PRIZES
SECNAV/CNO Chair in Oceanography, 2003-2007
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