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Geo-Marine Awarded $400M 5-year Design-Build Contract
GMI has been selected as an AFRC contractor under the new Command-wide Operations and Maintenance Project Execution Contract (COMPEC) II. The company is one of a small number of contractors selected for the 5-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.
Archaeology Fair Draws Record Crowd
Pint-sized explorers, budding artists and junior archaeologists were among those who visited this year's Archaeology Fair in Plano, TX. The event was sponsored by Geo-Marine, The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, and the City of Plano in Plano, Texas.
Beckemeyer Named GMI President
Curt Beckemeyer, Senior V.P. and Transportation Sector Manager for Applied Research Associates (GMI's parent company), has been named President of GMI. Beckemeyer takes on this position in addition to his existing ARA responsibilities.
Environmental Resources
Marine Resources • Desktop Studies • Environmental Compliance • EFH Assessments •
Habitat Monitoring • Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Surveys • NRDA • Protected Species •
Acoustic Monitoring
Acoustic monitoring relates to the recording or documentation of sounds, which can be biological, anthropogenic, or ambient in source. Acoustic monitoring can provide information on species distribution and habitat use as well as anthropogenic impacts, especially to marine mammals.
GMI’s professional acoustics team has hands-on experience conducting passive acoustic surveys of biological (bioacoustics) and anthropogenic activities as well as ambient noise mapping. When it comes to sound, we have experience and capability working with state-of-the-industry technology and software. Through small- and large-scale surveys, noise monitoring, and impact assessment, GMI can assist clients with their acoustic needs.
Our strengths include:
Passive Acoustic Monitoring
PAM offers the opportunity to document acoustic activity – from both biologic and anthropogenic, or human-made, sources – in an identified study area. Passive acoustic gear can be deployed for several days to several months with minimum human intervention, except when data are ready to be retrieved and analyzed. PAM is a technique that has the potential of satisfying a diverse number of objectives.
Purposes of PAM application in marine mammal studies include:
- Detection of marine mammal calls
- Tracking group or species movement patterns
- Triangulating location
- Habitat use (diurnal or seasonal, annual activity)
- Effects of noise on animal communication
- Mitigation tool (seismic surveys, marine construction, and anthropogenic noise assessment)
- Abundance and density estimates for select species
Sound Pressure Level Monitoring
SPL monitoring is a technique used to specifically monitor noise levels, which are generally associated with activities that increase sound levels in water, such as marine construction and seismic surveys.
GMI’s has experience using state-of-the-industry technology for monitoring noise levels associated with marine construction. Using an SPL meter, one can monitor the source level of a given activity and, with knowledge of sound propagation in water, then model the distance this elevated level will travel. From this information, potential effects on local species can be predicted. SPL monitoring can ensure that federal regulations, such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act, are upheld.
PORTFOLIO
The National Park Service contracted GMI to conduct marine mammal and acoustic regulatory mitigation monitoring during demolition and reconstruction of a new pier in Bechers Bay, Santa Rosa Island. Working in coordination with NPS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration experts, GMI designed and implemented monitoring protocols, and was responsible for the management, interpretation, validation, and analysis of all data.
In cooperation with NPS personnel and representatives of the construction crew, GMI marine scientists monitored for potential marine mammal presence in an identified acoustic exclusion zone before (baseline) and during, hydraulic vibratory pile extraction and pile drilling operations.
Real-time sound pressure levels, related to construction activities, were acquired using state-of-the-industry acoustic equipment. Utilizing sound propagation principles for the marine environment, SPLs at the noise source were calculated to determine exclusion zone boundaries (all regions where noise levels were or exceeded 160 dB re 1 µPa [rms]). Additionally, ambient noise data were collected of the project area and a noise map was created to allow for comparison of noise levels between pre-construction, construction, and post-construction phases.
Marine mammal occurrence both within and outside the acoustically established exclusion zone was visually monitored during all pile extraction and drilling activity. Marine mammals sighted within the exclusion zone resulted in an immediate recommendation to shutdown extraction or drilling activities until the area was clear of marine mammals for a predetermined length of time.
GMI was contracted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to perform an ecological baseline study of the marine and avian resources that use state offshore waters (0-20 NM). GMI was responsible for the design and implementation of all survey protocols, oversight of field data collection on the abundance and distribution of marine mammals, sea turtles, birds; real-time oceanographic data; and the management, interpretation, validation, and analysis of all data. The project included a literature review related to all marine resources, birds, oceanography, fishes, fisheries, and habitat found within the Study Area and vicinity.