Research Programs
By Region
By Subject
By Researcher
Publications
Milestone Reports
|
|
Real-time Environmental Coastal Observations Network (RECON) Project
Steven A. Ruberg,
Stephen B. Brandt
Collaborators
Tom Bridgeman, (Lake Erie
Center web site)
Guy Meadows, (University of Michigan web
site)
Harvey Bootsma, (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
web site)
Jeff Gray, (Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary web site)
Anders Andren, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Univ. of Wisconsin (Wisconsin
Sea Grant web site)
Val Klump, National Undersea Research Program, University of Wisconsin
(NURP web site)
Charles Edmonson - (University
of Michigan Space Physics Research Lab web site)
Steven Gordon - (Ohio Supercomputer Center
web site)
Executive Summary ![RECON buoys in GLERL High Bay](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916201256im_/http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Task_rpts/Images/2002/cmbrandt13-3f2.jpg)
The goal of the RECON project is to develop a national network of low
cost coastal buoys capable of seabed to sea-surface observations. The
RECON system has been designed from the beginning with a built-in capability
to add buoy observation sites to meet regional and national integrated
observing system requirements. In addition to advancing NOAA's scientific
real-time data acquisition capability, the project is making relevant
data accessible to the public and educational institutions through a web-based
data interface accessible using current internet technology with the goal
of providing Internet 2 content. Permanent and portable wireless internet
observation systems will be deployed at six sites for scientific data
collection and continued engineering development in Lakes Huron and Erie.
+ view real-time data
Project Rationale
The
need for development of regional coastal observing systems has been highlighted
by a number of studies as well as by the NOAA Strategic Plan (NOAA
Strategic Planning Office web site), the National Ocean Partnership
Program, and the U.S.
Coastal-Global Ocean Observing System program (C-GOOS
web site). Continual assessment of the status and trends in coastal
environments permits identification of perturbations that may signal changes
in the ecosystem, puts current trends into an historical framework, allows
us to differentiate true environmental change from variance and provides
a context to assess the impact of predicted changes.
Project Description
While
legacy systems currently provide the majority of data for a national Integrated
Ocean Observing System (IOOS web site),
a high bandwidth system using commercial networking standards will be
required to provide real-time whole water column observations of physical,
chemical, and biological variables in coastal areas few, if any, environmental
observations. The RECON project will also include the development of autonomous
underwater vehicle technology and deployment of real-time in situ biological
and chemical sensors, including fisheries acoustics for biomass estimation,
in support of Ocean.US coastal priorities for IOOS. On-water observation
networks will include the development of fiber optic cabled and high-bandwidth
wireless systems utilizing advanced database management systems. The project
will establish a test bed for observing system network design studies
and develop enhanced verification capabilities as outlined in NOAA's 5-Year
Research Plan.
Long Term Goals
- Collect long-term data sets for physical, biological, chemical, and
meteorological parameters in the Great Lakes.
- Deploy observations systems on portable, low cost buoys and fixed
platforms of opportunity.
- Implement a high bandwidth, wireless Ethernet-based system.
- Provide real-time, secure data access.
- Design universal sensor intefaces.
- Provide guest port access: data delivered to a common database or
a single user.
- Develop partnerships with Federal, University, and State components
to operate and maintain observations sites.
2006 goals
- Deploy and operate one RECON buoy at the Thunder Bay National Marine
Sanctuary (TBNMS
web site), one buoy in Western Lake Erie, and two buoys
on Lake Michigan in conjunction with the NOAA
Center For Great Lakes and Human Health.
- Operate two fixed stations on Coast Guard navigation structures in Western Lake Erie
- Complete the integration of two profilers into the Western Lake Erie
RECON node
- Integrate buoys on Lake Huron and Lake Erie into the OSC designed
real-time database management system and web display
- Determine buoy and permanent system reliability
- Demonstrate the capability to initiate sampling events using real-time
observations
- Continue development of wireless internet system roaming, multiple
access, and relay capabilities
- Establish laboratory calibration facility in collaboration with the
Alliance for Coastal Technology (ACT
web site)
2005 Results
Two RECON buoys were assembled and deployed during the 2005 field season
as planned. The two buoys were integrated with the existing RECON buoy
located 15 statute miles north of Cleveland, OH. A wireless connection
was achieved with the outermost buoy located 25 miles north of Cleveland.
In 2006, all data will be accessible through a relational database management
system interface.
Sample Data
![RECON buoy data](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916201256im_/http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Task_rpts/Images/2002/cmbrandt13-3f5.gif)
![RECON buoy data](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916201256im_/http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Task_rpts/Images/2002/cmbrandt13-3f6.gif)
System Description
The RECON system currently in place in the Great Lakes has national and
regional applications. This wireless Internet observation system, with
shore stations at four coastal locations covering approximately 800 square
miles of sea surface, uses commercially available networking equipment
allowing straightforward integration into a nationwide network (see figure
below). Each system collects meteorological data and provides sub-surface
measurements of chemical, biological, and physical parameters. The system
is designed to allow controlled access to multi-institutional users through
surface buoys and sub-surface sensor guest ports located on an underwater
hub. The observation network currently provides environmental data to
state, federal, and university researchers, educators and resource managers.
Overall, this type of effort will be an important contribution to NOAA's
leadership in supporting and promoting observation system development.
![RECON System Description diagram](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916201256im_/http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Task_rpts/Images/2002/cmbrandt13-3f5.png)
Data Management and Communications
As NOAA's coastal observing system is put into place, there will be a
need for an integrated set of data management and communications functions
that will allow system users both real-time and archival access to the
large datasets that will be created. The datasets will include an array
of data types from physical and chemical measurements to biological information
to video feeds of selected events.
Last updated 2006-09-22 mbl
|
|