Multi-sensor system for coastal environments

The authors describe the multi-sensor oceanographic data acquisition system (MSDAS) used by the USGS to study bottom currents, sediment transport, and sediment resuspension events. MSDAS's modular design provides the flexibility to change sensors and tailor the measurement instrumentation to meet experimental needs. To save engineering time, standard, high-quality, off-the-shelf sensors are used without customization. The modular philosophy has been extended to data collection, storage and processing software. With this flexibility, MSDAS serves multiple scientific objectives and enables evolution with scientific needs.