Monitoring systems for oceans and ocean industries

Sustainable large-scale utilization of marine resources requires improved understanding of processes both in the coastal areas and in open sea. Marine monitoring is therefore crucial to support the Norwegian Government’s goal of sustainable growth and employment for the ocean industries. Our research includes developing technology to provide solutions and innovations for growth in the future marine economy within sustainable frameworks.

NORCE offers services and expertise in:

Sensor development and optimization

NORCE has decades of experience on development of sensors and measurement technologies. This includes sensor systems for monitoring of the integrity of industrial assets, and monitoring of environmental parameters in the ocean. Research on sensors is ranging from development of basic principles to miniaturization, advanced on-board processing to save power and reduce the need for data transfer, sensor self-validation and uncertainty evaluations.

Measurement platforms and smart monitoring systems

NORCE has long experience with development of static buoys for deployment on ice, and drifting and anchored buoys for monitoring of sea conditions and ocean currents. This has formed the fundament for recent work on autonomous surface vessels used as measurement platforms. Combined with NORCE's drones, complete surveillance systems for measurement campaigns can be developed.

Together with stationary systems and permanently installed sensor networks, the mobile units can be utilized for optimized data collection; both to monitor the current state, to track trend changes, and to give input to advanced industrial, environmental and climate models.

Data quality receives high attention, and NORCE has competence on analysis of sensor and system sensitivities, uncertainty evaluation and optimization of measurement systems related to risk-cost-benefit analyses.

Wireless data transfer under water

An important part of data collection is transferring data from the sensor to user. In many cases, it is highly advantageous to avoid cables, e.g. in remote areas, in splash zones, on structures with a lot of movement or strain. NORCE has experience on wireless underwater communication, both for improved geolocation of mobile units and for data transfer. We have managed activities on development of multimodal modems switching between acoustic, optical and inductive data transfer. Related to modem technologies, we have also developed flexible modems for testing of various data rates and signal modulations. In many projects, both laboratory and field testing are part of the development work.

Data analysis and visualization

NORCE is designing software architectures and solutions for collection, storage, analysis and visualization of data from diverse data sources.

An example of such a software is the "Large Scale Survey System", abbreviated LSSS, a software package for detailed analysis of data from multi-frequency echo-sounders, developed in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Research (IMR).

Another example is image analysis. By using competence within image analysis and image processing it is possible to automatically preprocess video sequences for an efficient mapping of marine habitats. By applying AI, the system can detect and describe objects of interests in videos and images.

Data analysis and visualization of data related to the ocean also includes advanced analysis and modelling based on data from remote sensing systems at airborne drones and satellites.

Infrastructure

NORCE has a comprehensive technical infrastructure with drones (airborne drones, surface vessels and underwater drones),communication systems, smart sensors and software systems that are used for near real-time environmental and condition monitoring that bring situational awareness.