Bahamas News
New ‘ReefShape’ Photogrammetry System Puts Bahamian Coral Reefs on the Map — Literally
Open-source workflow from Perry Institute for Marine Science researchers enables automated data processing, arming reef managers worldwide with rapid, easy-to-use solutions for large area imaging.
Media Contact:
Written by Lily Haines | PIMS | WhatsApp +1 (613) 791-6045 | lhaines@perryinstitute.org
June 17, 2025—NASSAU | Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor yet anchor a quarter of all marine life. Protecting them has been the Perry Institute for Marine Science’s (PIMS) mission for more than 50 years—work that spans cutting-edge coral restoration, fisheries research and the Caribbean-wide Reef Rescue Network of coral nurseries.
Now PIMS scientists, working with Arizona State University, have unveiled ReefShape, an automated photogrammetry pipeline that converts thousands of underwater photographs into millimeter-accurate, 3-D and 2-D reef maps in hours instead of days. Their method, published this week in the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE), gives managers from Abaco to Zanzibar a practical and streamlined way to track bleaching, storm damage and restoration success at the millimeter scale.
“We needed a method that’s easy to teach, automatic, and lets us focus on actually saving coral reefs rather than just making maps of them,” said lead author Will Greene, photogrammetry specialist and research scientist at PIMS.
The reef-mapping bottleneck
Photogrammetry—the digital alchemy that converts overlapping photos into lifelike 3D models—has transformed archaeology, forestry and
even Hollywood. Yet under water it has remained a specialist’s sport: equipment can top US $20,000, and the software pipeline still relies on hours of manual clicks. In the meantime reefs around the world bleach, crumble or succumb to disease weeks before new data reach managers’ desks.
Headquartered in the United States, PIMS is a non-profit research organisation dedicated to ocean conservation and community engagement around the world. Through its flagship Reef Rescue Network—the region’s largest coalition of coral nurseries—PIMS has already planted tens of thousands of elkhorn, staghorn and fused staghorn corals throughout the Caribbean, restored critical reef habitat, and trained hundreds of local divers, students and tourism operators in reef-monitoring techniques. PIMS also leads research on sustainable fisheries, mangrove and seagrass restoration, and partners with governments to translate science into policy that safeguards coastal livelihoods.
Three simple upgrades
Turning big-picture conservation goals into on-the-ground action—and doing it fast enough to matter—meant re-engineering reef mapping for the realities of a dive boat. Instead of inventing another costly gadget, Greene’s team asked what the absolute essentials were and how to make each one fool-proof. The answer distilled into three simple upgrades that, together, turn a labour-intensive workflow into a backpack-friendly kit:
- Permanent corner markers. Four dinner-plate-sized markers drilled into the reef plot corners act as digital anchor points. Software recognises them automatically, snapping every future survey into perfect alignment.
- Phone-based GPS logging. A free Survey123 form guides divers to collect surface positions and depth readings of the markers, then formats the data for the processing script—no spreadsheets, transcribing coordinates, or typos.
A fully scripted pipeline. Custom Python code drives Agisoft Metashape processing through a graphic interface, whizzing through image alignment, mesh generation, orthomosaic building, data export and even structural-complexity metrics with no keyboard input beyond run.
From dive to desktop in 1 hour 58 minutes
Using the fully automated ReefShape script, a 200 square meter, 1,300-image reef plot can be processed in under 2 hours on a
modern laptop—roughly 400 percent faster than the same dataset handled with earlier, semi-manual workflows. Even on 2018-era hardware, the scripted pipeline still shaved hours off turnaround because most of the speed-up comes from automation and careful workflow optimization, not brute processor power.
Stress-tested during a record heatwave ReefShape’s coming-of-age moment arrived during the record marine heatwave that washed over The Bahamas in August 2023. Having surveyed Simms Point Reef seven months earlier, the team returned with a camera and retraced their path above the permanent markers. Hours later, side-by-side mosaics revealed that over 90 percent of corals in several species had bleached completely, while a handful of colonies clung to colour.
“That immediate feedback lets us prioritise restoration sites and share data with partners before the next storm hits,” says Dr. Craig Dahlgren, PIMS executive director and co-author on the new paper. “It’s like switching from film to livestream.”
Democratizing a critical tool
Everything needed to utilize the workflow—recommended camera system, field equipment, a suitable computer and software—comes in around US $5,000 ($8,000 without educational software discounts). The scripts and step-by-step manual live for free on GitHub, and the authors encourage anyone mapping coral, seagrass, mangroves or shipwrecks to fork and improve the code.
The design is deliberately tolerant: while the protocol gives specific instructions for researchers wanting a cookbook-style approach, it works for plots from 25 m² to > 1,000 m², depths down to 30 m, any camera system and swim pattern with sufficient overlap, and on any recent computer. The ReefShape software includes adjustable controls to suit different data collection strategies and researcher needs while remaining streamlined and easy to use, automatically exporting data pre-formatted for analysis in free software packages like QGIS or TagLab.
Why it matters
Coral reefs occupy less than one per cent of the ocean floor yet shelter a quarter of marine speciesand buffer tropical coastlines from storms.
With mass-bleaching events now recurring every few years, conservationists need diagnostics that are fast, cheap and repeatable—tools that turn snapshots into time-lapse. ReefShape, its creators argue, is a step toward that future. “Our goal wasn’t another complex method,” says Greene, now completing a PhD at Arizona State University on GIS-driven 3-D reef mapping. “It was to hand every reef manager a simple, comprehensive monitoring tool, then get out of the way so they can use it.”
ReefShape was developed by Will Greene, Sam Marshall, Dr. Jiwei Li and Dr. Craig Dahlgren, with funding from the Disney Conservation Fund and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Fieldwork was conducted under permits from the Bahamas Department of Environmental Planning & Protection. Full documentation and code: https://github.com/Perry-Institute/ReefShape.
PHOTO CAPTION:
1st insert: Time-series aligned imagery of Simm’s Point Reef in New Providence before (left) and during (right) the 2023 mass bleaching event. The data were processed automatically in ReefShape, allowing researchers to rapidly analyze the extent and severity of the bleaching event (bottom panel), uncovering different patterns among the various coral species present.
3rd insert: The ReefShape field kit—ready for a single-tank survey. (A) Mirrorless camera with wide-angle rectilinear lens; (B) matching underwater housing and dome port; (C) Bluetooth-enabled “kickboard” GPS for surface positioning; (D) reusable coded corner markers that lock each plot to precise coordinates; and (E) coded scale bars that set the model’s exact dimensions.
Fly-through of a ReefShape 3D model of a coral reef: a centimetre-scale, colour-true reconstruction that lets scientists measure coral growth, bleaching and erosion without getting wet.
DEAR EDITOR,
Sometimes the best ideas come from experiences far away from home.
It was while I was living in Europe that I saw how excited people were about England’s iconic double-decker buses. It was a symbol of culture – and visitors looked forward to the ride as an experience in itself rather than just a method of transportation.
That sparked a thought: What if we brought that same excitement to The Bahamas, but made it uniquely Bahamian?
In November 2024, that thought became 2 Storeys Tours. I wanted visitors to see Nassau in a way they had not been able to before. That meant they could come straight off a cruise ship and onto a double-decker to see what makes our country what it is – to see our beautiful waters and to discover what makes us Bahamian.
We wanted to create something memorable, something visitors would associate with their Bahamian vacation, just as people associate double-decker buses with England.
The bus may catch your attention, but The Bahamas is what makes the experience unforgettable.
We also believe tourism should create opportunities for Bahamians.
We started less than five years ago with one very used double decker bus.
Now thanks to cruise ship business, we have quadrupled the size of our little fleet. We now have four shiny new red and blue buses, so we can say Welcome Ashore in style.
Depending on the season, between 70 and 80 percent of our business is cruise-passenger driven. Even during the slower season for hotels, the cruise ships arrive filled with people looking to explore historic Nassau and we are giving them the closest to a bird’s eye view as they can get. And they love it.
Turning an idea into a functioning business has been an exciting journey, but certainly not without challenges. From planning and preparation to finally seeing our buses on the road, the experience has taught us patience, perseverance, and the importance of believing in a vision.
We are proud of how far we’ve come, and even more excited about what lies ahead.
Building partnerships helped us to get to where we are today – building them further will take us to where we can reach tomorrow.
Our ambition is to make 2 Storeys Tours a recognised and trusted name in Bahamian tourism. We want to continue improving our tours, developing new experiences, embracing environmentally responsible tourism, and building meaningful relationships – and eventually take the 2 Storeys Tours experience beyond Nassau to other islands.
Above all, we want to build something that lasts.
Looking back, it’s incredible to think that an observation while living in Europe could lead to a business right here at home.
What began as an idea became a business with a purpose, and we’re only getting started.
Our inspiration came from abroad. Our passion comes from home. And our future is proudly Bahamian.
By: KEEVON MAYNARD
President, 2 Storeys Tours
Bahamas News
Federal Investigation into Florida Turnpike Tragedy that Killed Three Children of Bahamian Mother
NTSB examining roadside assistance driver’s actions, SUV speed and seat belt use after six people perish in fiery collision
ORLANDO, FLORIDA — October 29, 2026 — Federal investigators have joined the investigation into a horrific Florida Turnpike collision that claimed six lives, including all three children of a Bahamian mother, as questions intensify over what caused the deadly crash.
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that it is opening an investigation into the October 23 accident, which occurred around 9:31 p.m. near mile marker 252 in Orange County.
The agency’s involvement brings federal scrutiny to a tragedy that has devastated several families and prompted an extraordinary
outpouring of sympathy and disbelief.
Among those killed were siblings Charles Milton, Jakara Milton and Dalvena Green, the three adult children of Marshall Clarke-Milton and her husband, Charles Milton Sr.
The siblings were traveling with three others to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, reportedly on their first trip together.
They never arrived.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE WHAT WENT WRONG
The NTSB confirmed to FOX 35 Orlando that its investigation will examine the training and performance of the roadside assistance driver, the actions of the SUV driver, including speed, and whether the occupants were wearing seat belts.
The agency investigates serious transportation accidents to identify safety failures and recommend measures that could prevent similar tragedies.
Its involvement does not establish wrongdoing by either driver.
The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a separate investigation into the collision.
According to the preliminary police account, a Road Ranger roadside assistance truck had been parked in the highway median before its driver received instructions to assist a disabled box truck on the opposite shoulder.
As the Road Ranger moved across the northbound lanes, it collided with a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse carrying six adults.
Both vehicles left the roadway and caught fire.
All six occupants of the SUV died at the scene. The Road Ranger driver survived with minor injuries.
MOTHER CHALLENGES EARLY ACCOUNT
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that the SUV was traveling at high speed without its headlights illuminated.
However, those observations have not been established as the definitive cause of the collision.
Clarke-Milton has challenged suggestions that her children or their companions were responsible, urging investigators to examine the evidence before reaching conclusions.
She wants investigators to establish the SUV’s actual speed and determine whether its headlights were operating.
The family’s concerns underscore the importance of the continuing investigations, particularly given the movement of the roadside assistance vehicle across active highway lanes.
ALL THREE CHILDREN LOST
For Clarke-Milton, the investigation unfolds against an almost incomprehensible personal tragedy.
She lost all three of her children simultaneously.
In an emotional interview with FOX 35 Orlando, the grieving mother described the terrible feeling that overcame her when she could not reach them.
“My heart sank,” she said, recalling the moment she feared her children were involved.
The siblings were among six people whose lives ended during what should have been an enjoyable evening together.
The other victims included Timothy Williams and Shawn Palmer. A sixth person’s identity had not been publicly confirmed in the latest reports reviewed.
The family’s heartbreak has resonated across The Bahamas and beyond, with expressions of sympathy accompanying calls for answers.
SEARCH FOR ANSWERS CONTINUES
The Florida Highway Patrol has indicated that a crash report is expected within approximately ten days of the accident.
The NTSB’s investigation will examine broader transportation safety concerns, including the operation of roadside assistance vehicles and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
For the grieving families, the findings cannot reverse the tragedy.
But they may establish what happened on that stretch of Florida’s Turnpike and whether anything could have prevented six people from losing their lives.
For one Bahamian mother, the loss is especially devastating.
Three children left for an evening of entertainment. Not one came home.
Nassau, The Bahamas, October 22, 2026 — The National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS) has issued a cybersecurity advisory warning businesses, government institutions and other organisations about the growing threat posed by Akira ransomware, a cybercriminal operation capable of stealing sensitive information, disrupting networks and demanding ransom payments.
Active since March 2023, Akira operates through a Ransomware-as-a-Service model, with affiliates exploiting weaknesses in computer networks to gain unauthorised access.
Once inside, attackers can steal confidential data, disable recovery systems and encrypt files, preventing organisations from accessing critical information.
Particularly concerning is Akira’s use of double extortion, threatening to publish stolen information unless victims pay. Some attacks involve data theft without encryption.
The October 22 advisory identifies vulnerabilities involving Cisco and SonicWall firewalls, VPN services, Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol, Veeam backup systems and outdated Windows and Linux operating systems. VMware ESXi and Nutanix AHV environments are also potential targets.
Attackers may exploit unpatched software, stolen login credentials and inadequately secured remote-access applications, including AnyDesk and RustDesk.
Warning signs include unexpected administrator accounts, unusual remote logins, unauthorised software installations, suspicious backup activity, mass file changes and ransom notes.
CIRT-BS recommends immediate security updates, multifactor authentication, restricted remote access, stronger network monitoring and secure backups maintained separately from operational systems.
Organisations should also remove unnecessary internet exposure of remote desktop services, limit administrative privileges and regularly test backup restoration.
The advisory does not identify any confirmed Akira attack against a Bahamian organisation but highlights vulnerabilities that could expose institutions to serious financial and operational disruption.
Cybersecurity incidents can be reported to CIRT-BS at soc@cirt.bs or through its official website.
