Environmental and Ocean Sciences Alumna Publishes Research in Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Recent graduate Olivia Hines ’26 (BS) co-authored her first publication “GhostVision: Democratizing Derelict Gear Detection Using Low-Cost Sonar and Artificial Intelligence” in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. The publication includes research conducted at the University of Delaware, where Olivia completed a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship in the summer of 2024.

Hines’ REU internship was based in the Coastal Sediments, Hydrodynamics and Engineering Laboratory under the mentorship of Art Trembanis, PhD. Hines conducted a research project on anthropologic site formation at an offshore artificial reef site using high resolution mapping.

The paper outlines the researchers experimentation of an open-source framework, GhostVision, that uses low-cost, side-scan sonar paired with AI as an effective way to detect marine debris, specifically derelict crab pots.  These pots (often called “ghost” pots) present a significant risk to marine community preservation in the Delaware Bay. The findings of this paper indicate that the framework used by the researchers can ensure locating these dangers is fast, easy and inexpensive; thus creating more opportunities for ghost pot removal and ecosystem preservation.

Reflecting on her journey, Hines shared, "The academic and personal foundation I received in USD’s Environmental and Ocean Sciences program is what allowed me to act on my curiosity about the University of Delaware’s REU program. My time at UD bridging my liberal arts education into such a research-intensive field has been incredibly rewarding — it's work that truly gets me out of bed and into the water in the morning.”

Following her graduation this past May, Hines plans to enroll in a master’s program at the University of Delaware in the fall of 2026. Working alongside her REU mentor, Dr. Trembanis, Hines’ master's thesis research will focus on sidescan sonar applications in the Hudson River, primarily for sturgeon conservation.