Review and Prospects for Autonomous Observing Systems in Vessels of Opportunity

Abstract

This paper focuses on the state of the art on Autonomous Observing Systems (AOS) used in Vessels of Opportunity (VOO) for collecting in situ atmospheric, oceanic and biogeochemical data. The designation Vessels of Opportunity includes all kinds of ships, even if not having scientific goals, which may carry proper devices that autonomously measure environmental variables. These vessels can be merchant, military, research, cruise liners, fishing, ferries, or even private yachts or sailing boats. The use of AOS can provide the opportunity for highly refined oceanographic data and improved derived data estimation, for local, regional or global scales studies. However, making the collected information accessible, both for scientific and technical purposes, provides a challenge in data management and analysis, which must, above all, ensure trusted useful data to the stakeholders. An overall review of the systems implemented is presented. This includes the definition of objectives, the recruitment of vessels and a review on the installation of proper acquisition devices; the selection and collection of Essential Oceanic Variables (EOV); the mechanisms for transmitting the information, and the quality control analysis and dissemination of data. The present and future capabilities of VOO for measuring EOV, within the Portuguese context are referred.

Field Test of an Autonomous Observing System Prototype for Measuring Oceanographic Parameters from Ships

“…All data were recorded in the ODC, serving as the central hub to which all sensors were connected, each with its dedicated software application and user interface. This system is based on the one installed by [3] and is totally autonomous (no human action) once initiated.…”

“…It was powered by the vessels' electric grid and used an external water pump for sea water input and output having the inflow controlled through a flowmeter. Every time the Ferrybox was turned on, a clean freshwater inlet was activated to clean the sensors, preventing them from getting dirty [3]. The Ferrybox was installed in a box/enclosure/cabinet set right outside the survey room along based on the work by [28] and employed the pre-estimated vessel's response amplitude operators (RAOs), which depends on the vessel hull's geometry, ship SOG as well as on the measured ship motions to estimate the wave spectrum using genetic algorithms.…”

“…Despite global-scale autonomous and satellite measurements having started in the 1970s [1], and even if, nowadays, remote sensing and numerical modelling are important for ocean-related research, the fact is that, for example, satellite remote sensing observations just deliver data from the surface layers of the ocean, and around 98.8% of the ocean volume remains unobservable [2], and numerical models provide most of the derived and predicted data [3]. Consequently, both approaches need to be complemented by key high-quality in situ measurements, which ships still provide from their ocean-wide observations, delivering calibration and context for developmental, autonomous, and satellite measurements, as well as for initialization, validation, or assimilation [1,3].…”

“…In contrast, conventional vessels traverse the oceans under adverse weather conditions, often navigating inhospitable waters. For example, commercial vessels adhere to traditional ocean routes, facilitating the repetition of observations in specific local regions and contributing to extensive time series data; fishing vessels, operating in coastal seas all year-round and under almost all-weather conditions [3], are able to contribute with crucial data, even in unfavourable weather and remote regions. So, whether commercial or otherwise, these vessels may function as versatile sampling platforms, providing valuable insights into biological, physical, chemical, and geological ocean parameters, and they are called vessels of opportunity (VOO).…”

“…While there have been numerous successful implementations of these observing systems in VOO (e.g., [3]), their integration still poses challenges. This is attributed not only to the distinct configurations of each vessel but also to the specific requirements of the systems, which include the proper installation of measuring devices, the operational conditions, sensor calibration, and the use of appropriate data communication platforms.…”