Underwater Technology and Development
New or Refined Advanced Underwater Technologies, Platforms, Instruments, and Sensors
With the formation of OER, NOAA now
has an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on past experiences and
partnerships to accelerate the pace of advanced technology development as a means to meet the growing need for information about the ocean, its habitats and
species, and the dynamic processes governing it.
The mission of this focused effort will seek to design, develop, deploy, test, evaluate, apply, and transition new or refined advanced underwater technologies, platforms, instruments, and sensors to advance ocean exploration and research. Critical drivers will include identifying challenges requiring a technological solution, as well as investing in new and emerging technologies for creative adaptation to address ocean exploration and research needs.
To achieve success, OER will create a formal capability within the Science Department with dedicated staff to establish priorities for investment by working with future “users” of the technologies. This effort includes researching and monitoring advances in technology made by other agencies and institutions, academia, and industry. The OER team will also take responsibility for executing priority investments through appropriate mechanisms (grants, contracts, etc.), directly engaging in projects as appropriate. The team will ensure that successful, proven technologies transition smoothly into operations – an “end-to-end” technology development process.
OER's technology capabilities include: