Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LAkHsMI (Sensors for LArge scale HydrodynaMic Imaging of ocean floor)
Teaser
The main objective of LAkHsMI is to build macroscopic scalable sensor arrays for hydrodynamic visualization and large-scale oceanography. With LAkHsMI sensors we expect to significantly improve the quality of benthic (near bottom) marine observations and reduce uncertainty of...
Summary
The main objective of LAkHsMI is to build macroscopic scalable sensor arrays for hydrodynamic visualization and large-scale oceanography. With LAkHsMI sensors we expect to significantly improve the quality of benthic (near bottom) marine observations and reduce uncertainty of modelling ocean physics at a tolerable cost. Currently, the bottom layers of oceans are under sampled because there is no technology for recording motion of water under the surface with a sufficient resolution and scale.
Understanding the benthic flows in oceans is important for modelling and predicting the circulation in oceans. This is turn is important for the society to understand climate change, ocean productivity, pollution, weather, etc.
The overall objectives of LAkHsMI are:
Objective 1: Design of low-cost, scalable optical sensors for hydrodynamic imaging.
Objective 2: Prototyping of sensors, imaging, and fabrication methods.
Objective 3: Testing and performance assessment of the LAkHsMI sensor arrays under laboratory and pool conditions.
Objective 4: Developing methods for data acquisition, storage and on-site real-time analysis ensuring compatibility with standards of existing operational observation systems as endorsed by the European Global Ocean Observing System organization (EUROGOOS) and further developed by Copernicus/MyOcean initiatives.
Objective 5: LAkHsMI sensor data processing and data analysis for hydrodynamic imaging, classification of hydrodynamic environments, detection and classifications of objects.
Objective 6: Testing and performance assessment of LAkHsMI sensors in natural conditions.
Objective 7: Implementation of dissemination and exploitation including IPR strategy, manufacturing methods, possible business models and use-cases.
Work performed
The main results of the first reporting period are that we:
• Specified the target exploitation environments and derived specifications for the sensor design.
• Developed three alternative sensor designs (two optical and one electrical), built and partially tested the sensor prototypes
• Developed a model of the sensor that estimates the external forces from the tip displacement
• Developed a sensor array concept
• Developed methods for signal acquisition, post-processing and analysis of data
• Wrote the preliminary dissemination plan and explored new alternative applications
Final results
We have tested the first prototypes of LAkHsMI sensors in outdoor environments and identified new potential application areas. Besides recording ocean bottom dynamics, the sensors can be also used for monitoring flows around underwater structures and monitoring river flow dynamics. They offer new potential impact in environmental monitoring as well as safety and reliability of managing underwater structures.
Website & more info
More info: http://www.lakhsmi.eu.