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Future technology requirements for operational oceanography
Operational Oceanography. The Challengefor European Co-operation edited by J.H. Stel, H.W.A. Behrens, J.C. Borst, L.J. Droppert, J. v.d. Meulen 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
702
F u t u r e t e c h n o l o g y r e q u i r e m e n t s for o p e r a t i o n a l o c e a n o g r a p h y Jan J. Bosman Rijkswaterstaat/RIKZ, P.O. Box 20907, 2500 EX Den Haag, The Netherlands Chairman of EuroGOOS Technology Plan Working Group
This paper is an extended abstract of the conference summary presentation on future technology requirements for operational oceanography. It is based mainly on the topics presented or discussed at the conference.
1. I N T R O D U C T I O N Technology as considered by the EuroGOOS Technology Plan Working Group (TPWG) is rather wide, ranging from sensors and instruments up to data products at the very end, and covering all in between. The field is too wide to discuss in its entirety, hence just a few general elements touched upon during this EuroGOOS Conference, are emphasised in this paper. Future technology requirements have been obtained from quite a variety of sources (Figure 1).
EuroGOOS TPWG
1
END-USERS, SERVICE COMPANIES DEVELOPERS, MANUFACTURERS, .. development
lprecompetitive
MAST
prototype tests (sea) trials
J~
~[competitive
iEUROMAR I
Figure 1. From technology requirements to products
703
Within EuroGOOS important inputs have come from the: 9 Regional Task Teams which are essential, as they are really setting up monitoring activities. 9 EuroGOOS End-user surveys. 9 Working groups on Science (SAWG) and Technology (TPWG). 9 First EuroGOOS conference. In addition, there have been various inputs from outside EuroGOOS, such as SeaNet. The technology requirements may serve as a guidance for new technology developments by developers and manufacturers. In making those developments, prototype tests and (sea)trials - if applicable - should be carried out preferably in co-operation with end-users and/or service companies. Two important European frameworks may support, also financially, these developments being the: 9 EU-Framework Programmes, in particular the MAST programme, for precompetitive R&D. 9 European Technology Programme, EUREKA, in particular the umbrella project Euromar for competitive developments. EU-sponsored precompetitive developments could be well followed by EUREKA-funded product development.
2. G E N E R A L R E Q U I R E M E N T S In order to implement EuroGOOS the technology must be: 9 9 9 9 9 9
very robust (not just the instrumentation, but the mathematical models as well), simple to handle (too complicated doesn't work in practice), long term stable, cheap, fast: only small time delay, synoptic instead of local: profiles and swath.
Although these requirements are quite obvious, a lot of systems still fail because one or more of these requirements are not met. The issue 'cheap' seems to be in contradiction with most of the other ones. However, the AquaTracka product line of Chelsea Instruments demonstrates that systems can become much lighter, much smaller and much cheaper while keeping up the same performance. Important operational aspects of future instrumentation are: 9 Systems must be preferably maintenance-free; practically speaking for a period of 6 to 12 months.
704 9 As fouling is one of the main problems in maintenance, there is a strong need for efficient anti-fouling techniques. 9 Low installation and recovery costs. 9 Low power consumption. Gaining a lot from other technical fields, industry is well capable nowadays to design low energy consumption electronics. 9 Standardisation of technology is of utmost importance, both for the manufacturers and for the end-users. The established European body for standardisation is CEN (Comit6 Europ6en de Normalisation) with the technical committee TC318 dealing with Hydrometry. TC318's secretariat is held at the British Standardisation Organisation (BSI) in London. An increased effort should be put into CEN activities for improving marine technology.
3. ISSUES OF SPECIAL A T T E N T I O N The various fields of technology have very specific needs which are indicated below for each sector: For
sensors
these are:
9 For the coastal module a sensor system for near bottom sediment transport is vital. 9 Bio-chemical sensors, either substance specific or group sensitive, the latter being favourite. 9 Sensors for continuous monitoring of the upper ocean variables like temperature, conductivity, primary production and zoo-plankton biomass. Although several sensors are available at present, still their operational use is troublesome. 9 Methods for detection of chemicals in the water, without 'wet chemistry' because of the instability of the chemicals: e.g. nutrients, heavy metals, organic substances, and contaminants/pollutants. For
carriers
9 9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9 9
there is a need for:
Systems for measuring under the ice. Fixed oceanographic stations (quite expensive unless in combined use). Subsurface buoys. Instrument deployment platforms. Multi-sensor drifting buoys. Pop-up devices. Automated underwater vehicles (AUV). Instrumenting ferries or commercial aircraft with standard equipment. Land-based radar systems like high frequency (HF) radar systems for measuring currents and waves, and Satellite systems.
705 Concerning data itself a point of attention is the enormous amount of data to be handled. So important aspects are: 9 9 9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9 9 9
Handling and management of large amounts of data. Compression and processing of data on-board observing systems. On-board quality control very close to the sensors. Quality flags assigned to the raw data. Checks on system's functioning. Underwater communication (wireless acoustic): how to get the information from the water up to the surface, and to shore, eventually through satellite. Especially the underwater part is still under development (e.g. French TIVA system). A lot of telemetry systems being available, there is a need for standard telemetry procedures. Assimilation techniques to merge measured data with operational models. Redundant information should be removed before release to the customer. For data product distribution modem techniques should be applied, for example electronic mail for prompt information, CD-ROM otherwise. Having a large variety of information available, three-dimensional visualisation graphics would be of great help. Classification of algae.
With respect to modelling important features to elaborate are: 9 Proper modelling of the vertical mixing components (vertical velocity and turbulence). 9 Assimilation of data (is still a big problem).
4. CONCLUSIONS It goes without saying that a lot of technology developments are still to come, yet some general conclusions can be made: 1. Considering the harsh measuring conditions and remote locations, robustness of technology is more important than accuracy, that is: better having continuous data with limited accuracy than having no data at all (with accurate systems). 2. The EU framework programmes (precompetitive developments) and the EUREKA/Euromar initiatives (competitive developments) are quite important for the support of the development of marine technology. So far, too few developments in the precompetitive stage of the MAST programme have proceeded into the competitive stage of Euromar. 3. (End-)users should realise that the more precisely they specify their needs in the field of operational oceanography, the more adequately industry will respond.
702
F u t u r e t e c h n o l o g y r e q u i r e m e n t s for o p e r a t i o n a l o c e a n o g r a p h y Jan J. Bosman Rijkswaterstaat/RIKZ, P.O. Box 20907, 2500 EX Den Haag, The Netherlands Chairman of EuroGOOS Technology Plan Working Group
This paper is an extended abstract of the conference summary presentation on future technology requirements for operational oceanography. It is based mainly on the topics presented or discussed at the conference.
1. I N T R O D U C T I O N Technology as considered by the EuroGOOS Technology Plan Working Group (TPWG) is rather wide, ranging from sensors and instruments up to data products at the very end, and covering all in between. The field is too wide to discuss in its entirety, hence just a few general elements touched upon during this EuroGOOS Conference, are emphasised in this paper. Future technology requirements have been obtained from quite a variety of sources (Figure 1).
EuroGOOS TPWG
1
END-USERS, SERVICE COMPANIES DEVELOPERS, MANUFACTURERS, .. development
lprecompetitive
MAST
prototype tests (sea) trials
J~
~[competitive
iEUROMAR I
Figure 1. From technology requirements to products
703
Within EuroGOOS important inputs have come from the: 9 Regional Task Teams which are essential, as they are really setting up monitoring activities. 9 EuroGOOS End-user surveys. 9 Working groups on Science (SAWG) and Technology (TPWG). 9 First EuroGOOS conference. In addition, there have been various inputs from outside EuroGOOS, such as SeaNet. The technology requirements may serve as a guidance for new technology developments by developers and manufacturers. In making those developments, prototype tests and (sea)trials - if applicable - should be carried out preferably in co-operation with end-users and/or service companies. Two important European frameworks may support, also financially, these developments being the: 9 EU-Framework Programmes, in particular the MAST programme, for precompetitive R&D. 9 European Technology Programme, EUREKA, in particular the umbrella project Euromar for competitive developments. EU-sponsored precompetitive developments could be well followed by EUREKA-funded product development.
2. G E N E R A L R E Q U I R E M E N T S In order to implement EuroGOOS the technology must be: 9 9 9 9 9 9
very robust (not just the instrumentation, but the mathematical models as well), simple to handle (too complicated doesn't work in practice), long term stable, cheap, fast: only small time delay, synoptic instead of local: profiles and swath.
Although these requirements are quite obvious, a lot of systems still fail because one or more of these requirements are not met. The issue 'cheap' seems to be in contradiction with most of the other ones. However, the AquaTracka product line of Chelsea Instruments demonstrates that systems can become much lighter, much smaller and much cheaper while keeping up the same performance. Important operational aspects of future instrumentation are: 9 Systems must be preferably maintenance-free; practically speaking for a period of 6 to 12 months.
704 9 As fouling is one of the main problems in maintenance, there is a strong need for efficient anti-fouling techniques. 9 Low installation and recovery costs. 9 Low power consumption. Gaining a lot from other technical fields, industry is well capable nowadays to design low energy consumption electronics. 9 Standardisation of technology is of utmost importance, both for the manufacturers and for the end-users. The established European body for standardisation is CEN (Comit6 Europ6en de Normalisation) with the technical committee TC318 dealing with Hydrometry. TC318's secretariat is held at the British Standardisation Organisation (BSI) in London. An increased effort should be put into CEN activities for improving marine technology.
3. ISSUES OF SPECIAL A T T E N T I O N The various fields of technology have very specific needs which are indicated below for each sector: For
sensors
these are:
9 For the coastal module a sensor system for near bottom sediment transport is vital. 9 Bio-chemical sensors, either substance specific or group sensitive, the latter being favourite. 9 Sensors for continuous monitoring of the upper ocean variables like temperature, conductivity, primary production and zoo-plankton biomass. Although several sensors are available at present, still their operational use is troublesome. 9 Methods for detection of chemicals in the water, without 'wet chemistry' because of the instability of the chemicals: e.g. nutrients, heavy metals, organic substances, and contaminants/pollutants. For
carriers
9 9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9 9
there is a need for:
Systems for measuring under the ice. Fixed oceanographic stations (quite expensive unless in combined use). Subsurface buoys. Instrument deployment platforms. Multi-sensor drifting buoys. Pop-up devices. Automated underwater vehicles (AUV). Instrumenting ferries or commercial aircraft with standard equipment. Land-based radar systems like high frequency (HF) radar systems for measuring currents and waves, and Satellite systems.
705 Concerning data itself a point of attention is the enormous amount of data to be handled. So important aspects are: 9 9 9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9 9 9
Handling and management of large amounts of data. Compression and processing of data on-board observing systems. On-board quality control very close to the sensors. Quality flags assigned to the raw data. Checks on system's functioning. Underwater communication (wireless acoustic): how to get the information from the water up to the surface, and to shore, eventually through satellite. Especially the underwater part is still under development (e.g. French TIVA system). A lot of telemetry systems being available, there is a need for standard telemetry procedures. Assimilation techniques to merge measured data with operational models. Redundant information should be removed before release to the customer. For data product distribution modem techniques should be applied, for example electronic mail for prompt information, CD-ROM otherwise. Having a large variety of information available, three-dimensional visualisation graphics would be of great help. Classification of algae.
With respect to modelling important features to elaborate are: 9 Proper modelling of the vertical mixing components (vertical velocity and turbulence). 9 Assimilation of data (is still a big problem).
4. CONCLUSIONS It goes without saying that a lot of technology developments are still to come, yet some general conclusions can be made: 1. Considering the harsh measuring conditions and remote locations, robustness of technology is more important than accuracy, that is: better having continuous data with limited accuracy than having no data at all (with accurate systems). 2. The EU framework programmes (precompetitive developments) and the EUREKA/Euromar initiatives (competitive developments) are quite important for the support of the development of marine technology. So far, too few developments in the precompetitive stage of the MAST programme have proceeded into the competitive stage of Euromar. 3. (End-)users should realise that the more precisely they specify their needs in the field of operational oceanography, the more adequately industry will respond.