Public Reports & Articles
Evaluation of Real-Time Particle Acceleration/Particle Velocity (PA/PV) Measurement System in a Tidal Environment
December 2018 — Nova Scotia, Canada
Client: Offshore Energy Research Association of NS
This project successfully tested and trialed a real-time drifting acoustic measurement system using a directional hydrophone sensor. The performance of the PV/PA compared favourably with a traditional hydrophone drifter but added the capability to discriminate the arrival direction of the received sounds.
ECHO Program | Strait of Georgia Underwater Listening Station
December 2018 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Port of Vancouver
Appendix A.1 – Monthly Ambient Noise Reports for Sep 2015 to Apr 2018 (p30)
Appendix A.2 – Monthly Marine Mammal Detection Reports for Sep 2015 to Apr 2018 (p421)
Part of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) program. Monthly reporting of ambient noise conditions and marine mammal presence over the 2.5 years of operation of the real-time underwater listening station. These results contribute to the ECHO program’s efforts to manage the effects of shipping activities on at-risk whales on the BC south coast.
ESRF Study | Transmission Loss Modelling of Seismic Airgun Sounds Predicted Received Levels, with Frequency Weighting, off Atlantic Canada
December 2018 — Atlantic Canada
An Environmental Studies Research Fund project
Part of ESRF Project 2014-02S, providing new results to inform future environmental assessments of human activities on Canada’s East Coast. Sound propagation from a seismic survey was modelled at 20 sites. The sites span nearly 15° of latitude along the Atlantic coast, including both areas of potential oil and gas development and less-sampled areas important to marine mammals. Sound propagation at the sites was modelled twice, first assuming a generic sandy seabed and then (at 14 of the sites) using estimated local seabed properties. Comparing the models showed that knowing the local bottom properties could lead to better predictions of sounds emanating from seismic surveys and their impacts on marine mammals.
Duntroon Multi-client 3D and 2D Marine Seismic Survey: Acoustic Modelling
November 2018 — Southern Australia
Client: PGS Australia
Appendix B – Acoustic Modelling for Assessing Marine Fauna Sound Exposures for a 3260 in³ array
Sound modelling study to assess underwater noise levels during the proposed Duntroon Multi-Client Marine Seismic Survey in the Great Australian Bight, which received environmental approval in January 2019. Four types of acoustic propagation models were used in combination to characterize the sound fields from the proposed 3-D seismic survey at both short and long ranges. The sound propagation was modelled at 16 sites, and the potential impacts on marine fauna were predicted for cetaceans, pinnipeds, turtles, fish, and invertebrates using a variety of sound level metrics and impact criteria.
Vineyard Wind Impact Assessment
October 2018 — Massachusetts, United States
Client: Vineyard Wind, LLC
In 2017, JASCO performed an acoustic impact assessment for Vineyard Wind as part of their Construction and Operations Plan submitted to BOEM. In 2018, this supplemental document addressed BOEM’s request for further information on impact producing factors (IPFs) of the Project. JASCO modelled the sound fields from proposed piling activities and estimated the ranges to various sound level isopleths. The sound fields were then combined with JASCO’s JASMINE animal simulation model to estimate potential exposure levels for marine species.
Potential Impact of Pile-Driving Noise at Cape Lambert—Literature Review of International Regulations
October 2018 — Western Australia
Client: Rio Tinto
A detailed review of the literature and international regulations and guidelines on impact assessment for pile driving noise for Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert Port A Marine Structures Refurbishment Project. Includes a review of marine fauna present in the area and summarizes new or updated regulations and guidance relating to pile driving and other relevant noise sources since 2011 from jurisdictions in Australia, North America, and Europe.
A collaborative report with ERM.
Newfoundland Orphan Basin Exploration Drilling Program Environmental Impact Statement
September 2018 — Newfoundland, Canada
Clients: Stantec, BP Canada Energy Group
Appendix C – Underwater Sound Assessment for Newfoundland Orphan Basin Exploration Drilling Program
An acoustic assessment as part of the Environmental Impact Statement for proposed exploration drilling in Orphan Basin. JASCO’s assessment reviews existing assessments of similar projects in the area, estimates sound source spectra for the planned activities based on previous studies, describes the acoustic environment and transmission loss and compares them to assessments of two previous drilling projects, and describes ambient sound levels and the various soundscape contributors from previously measured data.
ESRF Study | Analysis of Acoustic Particle Motion Data from the Svein Vaage Airgun Study
September 2018 — Norway
An Environmental Studies Research Fund project
A detailed analysis of particle motion and hydrophone datasets from an airgun in a deep fjord in Norway. JASCO used the hydrophone measurements to derive corrections for the sensitivities and positions of the nearby M20s, a new type of particle motion sensor. The corrected measurements were then used to validate the pressure and particle acceleration predictions for single airguns of JASCO's Airgun Array Source Model. Part of ESRF Project 2014-02S, providing new results to inform future environmental assessments of human activities on Canada’s East Coast.
Assessment of Vessel Noise within the Southern Resident Killer Whale Critical Habitat
July 2018 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Transport Canada
A large and comprehensive modelling study for Transport Canada’s Innovation Centre to investigate options for managing and reducing vessel noise exposures to marine fauna, including the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale. The study examined underwater shipping noise levels in the Salish Sea, in key areas of critical habitat for SRKW, and investigated the effectiveness of several possible noise mitigation approaches, including slow down zones, no-go periods, and rerouting shipping lanes.
ESRF Study | Acoustic Monitoring Along Canada’s East Coast: August 2015 to July 2017
June 2018 — Atlantic Canada
An Environmental Studies Research Fund project
This 2-year acoustic measurement study involved 20 recorders, spanning nearly 15° of latitude along the Atlantic coast, and included both areas of potential oil and gas development and less-sampled areas important to marine mammals. The underwater soundscape and its biological (marine mammal), anthropogenic (seismic surveys, oil and gas production activities and shipping), and environmental contributors were quantified. Part of ESRF Project 2014-02S, providing new results to inform future environmental assessments of human activities on Canada’s East Coast.
Nexen Energy ULC Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project (2018–2028)
March 2018 — Newfoundland, Canada
Clients: AMEC Foster Wheeler, Nexen Energy
Appendix E – Underwater Sound Propagation Assessment
A modelling study as part of the Environmental Impact Statement for Nexen Energy’s 11-year exploration drilling program off eastern Newfoundland. Distances to marine mammal impact thresholds were estimated for planned operations of a Vertical Seismic Profiler (VSP) airgun array and a semi-submersible platform with a supply vessel alongside. The sources were modelled at both shallow and deep locations within the Exploration Licenses.
Pattullo Bridge Replacement Environmental Assessment: Acoustic Modelling
March 2018 — British Columbia, Canada
Client: Hatfield Consultants
Appendix 18.18 – Underwater Acoustic Modelling Report
Predictive modelling of underwater noise from pile driving to inform the environmental impact assessment for the construction of a four-lane bridge across the Fraser River to connect the cities of Surrey and New Westminster, British Columbia. Pile driving noise is transmitted from the pipe pile through river sediments and sheet pile wall, and into the water. Sound levels and ranges to acoustic thresholds in water that may result in injury to valued ecosystem components such as fish (e.g. sturgeon and Pacific salmon) were reported.
Barossa Area Development Offshore Project Proposal
March 2018 — Northern Territory, Australia
Clients: Jacobs, ConocoPhillips Australia
Appendix E – Underwater noise monitoring survey (90 p)
Appendix N – Underwater noise modelling – Facility anchor piling (59 p)
Appendix O – Underwater noise modelling – Facility operations (43 p)
Acoustic monitoring and modelling studies for Jacobs as part of ConocoPhillips Australia’s Offshore Project Proposal. The 12-month long monitoring study characterized the acoustic environment at and surrounding the Barossa LNG field using three seabed recorders. The two modelling studies predicted underwater sound levels associated with the construction and operation of the proposed FPSO facility and the potential impacts on marine fauna.
Exploring the Ocean Through Soundscapes
Spring 2018
In: Acoustics Today
An article exploring how “listening to underwater soundscapes helps us understand how ocean physics and the biology of marine communities are responding to a dynamically changing ocean”.
Co-authored by Bruce Martin, JASCO’s Applied Sciences Manager.
Modeling studies for Gulf of Mexico OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities
2015-2018 — Gulf of Mexico, United States
Clients: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), International Association of Geophysical Contractors, American Petroleum Institute
2015-2018 — Gulf of Mexico, United States
Clients: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), International Association of Geophysical Contractors, American Petroleum Institute
Acoustic Propagation and Marine Mammal Exposure Modeling Report (2015, 385 p) plus Addendum (2017, 6 p)
Cumulative and Chronic Effects Report (2015, 50 p) plus Addendum (2017, 12 p)
Acoustic Exposure Model Variable Analysis (2017, 171 p)
Comprehensive modelling studies to estimate acoustic exposure of protected species, estimate reduction of listening area and communication space due to seismic activities, and determine the influence and importance of modelling parameters on model outcomes. In support of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for geological and geophysical activities in the Gulf of Mexico.