Undersea Window - Introduction
The Undersea Window project is a collaboration between McGill University and the University of Victoria (UVic) to create a facility to transmit live full broadcast standard high definition video from a camera on the undersea VENUS network, 100m below the surface of the Saanich Inlet on Vancouver Island, to scientists, educators and the public throughout Canada and around the world via CA*net 4 and inter-connected broadband networks.
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Project Overview
The "Undersea Window" project uses Web Services software, developed at McGill University, to control the camera and video transmission from across the continent. This software will provide an interface for controlling the camera and pan tilt mount as well as all other monitoring devices. It will also coordinate the high definition video transmission and distribution to consumers across the country.
The camera will be connected to the broadband network through a dedicated fibre optic link which emerges from the oceans depths at the Institute of Ocean Science in Sidney BC. The camera and associated hardware are being installed on a platform designed by engineers from UVic's Ocean Technology Lab (OTL). The camera platform branches off of the VENUS node in Saanich Inlet. The node provides power and communication to the platform components. The node was first deployed in February of 2006, and has been providing data to the oceanographic community ever since.
Camera Platform
 The engineers from UVic's OTL designed a platform (shown left) on which to mount the high definition camera and pan tilt assembly as well as house all of the hardware required for communication and power regulation. This platform is designed to remain underwater prolonged periods of time and protect its contents from the ambient pressure of the ocean at depths up to 100m.
The tripod assembly is equipped with an acoustic release which deploys a line to the surface. This allows the entire assembly to be easily recovered from a vessel without the use of a separate utility ROV. A small survey vehicle (described below) is also tethered to the platform, which provides a means for assessing the conditions of the camera platform. Once securely positioned on the ocean floor, the tripod assembly will provide protective docking areas for the camera and the tethered vehicle.
Remotely Operated Vehicle
A remotely operated vehicle was designed as an attachement to the camera station. This vehicle, called PETROV (PErmanent Tethered Research and Observation Vehicle), serves two primary functions. To monitor the condition of the camera platform, and to investigate the effects of long term deployment on typical ROV components.
Sponsors
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