Transforming Ocean Observations
OFI Large Research Module O
Next generation unmanned marine platforms will have significantly improved on-board intelligence and autonomy, enabling better system diagnostics, sensor health and data interpretation for supervised real-time decision making with less operator intervention. The increased availability of different underwater communication modalities, such as acoustic and optical communication systems, paired with an increasing number of operational platforms — stationary and mobile — will allow the exploitation of coordinated heterogeneous multi-platform concepts for ocean observations and tracking on multiple length and time scales. It will also enable development of cross-platform, in-situ sensor calibration.
Sensor calibration and on-board data quality assurance and data quality management are key aspects for long-endurance missions where platforms are equipped with arrays of sensors and analyzers to allow an unprecedented view of the ocean environment.
Funding support exceeds $13 million - Using new technology will make it easier — and safer — to conduct research in the remote areas of the North Atlantic. But creating and testing high-tech tools is expensive, requiring a multi-institutional, collaborative approach. The Development of Autonomous Marine Observation Systems (DAMOS) project, which includes the participation of OFI researchers, has raised more than $13 million in financial support from various partners including $4.8 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This investment allows researchers to apply new technology to observe the ocean and collect data.
Principal investigator:
- Brad deYoung, Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Research team:
- Ralf Bachmayer, Memorial University of Newfoundland
- David Barclay, Oceanography, Dalhousie University
- Sara Iverson, Oceanography, Dalhousie University
- Lorenzo Moro, Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Uta Passow, Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Mae Seto, Engineering, Dalhousie University
- Paul Snelgrove, Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Doug Wallace, Oceanography, Dalhousie University
- Fred Whoriskey, Ocean Tracking Network, Dalhousie University
- Len Zedel, Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland