Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TechOceanS (Technologies for Ocean Sensing)
Reporting period: 2022-04-01 to 2023-09-30
There are significant gaps in our understanding and prediction of ocean biological and associated chemical processes due to too few observations. This impacts scientific understanding and limits efficiency in key industries including aquaculture, fisheries and offshore energy. Currently there is no way to easily collect widespread and continuous data sets.
To fill these data gaps, TechOceanS will demonstrate new sensor, imaging and sampler technologies enabling a step change in the worldwide ability to measure biology, chemistry and plastics in the global oceans from coast to deep sea.
The oceans cover over 70% of our planet, but critical marine habitats are overused or have been destroyed. There is a coordinated international request to develop and improve observation of ocean chemistry, biology and plastic pollution. Data from improved observations would improve models and understanding of ocean biology and chemistry and pollution threats, key to managing and optimising the oceans' role in regulating climate.
TechOceanS supports stakeholders in industry, aquaculture/fisheries, and the global ocean observing community through some of the following objectives:
· Create step change in the capability of non-ship observing systems to measure complex chemical and biological variables.
· Develop low-cost, mass-deployable sensor technologies and imaging techniques.
· Minimise sensor size and power requirements, enabling use on small and single platforms to host multiple systems so that all variables used in common models can be simultaneously measured.
· Develop low-cost and in situ sensors for aquaculture and fisheries including relevant chemical contaminants, biotoxins and environmental DNA, e.g. for pathogen and parasite quantification.
· Develop new sensors for micro/nanoplastics to enable the distribution and fate to be determined.
· Enable remote, real-time awareness of biology, benthic ecosystem type and litter observed by imaging systems by developing novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms to enable imaging systems to report information when data bandwidths are limited (e.g. in the remote or deep ocean).
The technologies developed include 5 sensors, 2 imaging systems, a sampler and a new image processing method using AI that enables transmission of information about key variables from the remote ocean. All the systems are robust and submersible to >2000 m.
To fill these data gaps, TechOceanS will demonstrate new sensor, imaging and sampler technologies enabling a step change in the worldwide ability to measure biology, chemistry and plastics in the global oceans from coast to deep sea.
The oceans cover over 70% of our planet, but critical marine habitats are overused or have been destroyed. There is a coordinated international request to develop and improve observation of ocean chemistry, biology and plastic pollution. Data from improved observations would improve models and understanding of ocean biology and chemistry and pollution threats, key to managing and optimising the oceans' role in regulating climate.
TechOceanS supports stakeholders in industry, aquaculture/fisheries, and the global ocean observing community through some of the following objectives:
· Create step change in the capability of non-ship observing systems to measure complex chemical and biological variables.
· Develop low-cost, mass-deployable sensor technologies and imaging techniques.
· Minimise sensor size and power requirements, enabling use on small and single platforms to host multiple systems so that all variables used in common models can be simultaneously measured.
· Develop low-cost and in situ sensors for aquaculture and fisheries including relevant chemical contaminants, biotoxins and environmental DNA, e.g. for pathogen and parasite quantification.
· Develop new sensors for micro/nanoplastics to enable the distribution and fate to be determined.
· Enable remote, real-time awareness of biology, benthic ecosystem type and litter observed by imaging systems by developing novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms to enable imaging systems to report information when data bandwidths are limited (e.g. in the remote or deep ocean).
The technologies developed include 5 sensors, 2 imaging systems, a sampler and a new image processing method using AI that enables transmission of information about key variables from the remote ocean. All the systems are robust and submersible to >2000 m.
This second reporting period has seen the development of in situ prototypes for all of the technologies being developed, save for those systems using a novel concept for handing modular tests and samples. This technology is new (globally) and whilst extremely powerful and promising, its novelty and challenges to rapidly achieve maturity has meant that in situ prototypes are delayed (they are anticipated in the next period). This affects the Bio-LOC (antibody assay-based sensor), the genomic sensor (nucleic acid amplification-based sensor) and a genomic / microplastics sampler. All other elements of the project are progressing well including the setup of supporting infrastructure, training and guides (best practices), frameworks for data and exploitation of results, publicity and dissemination materials and project management. The achievements to date for the 3 instrumentation themes are summarised here.
Theme 1 Ecogenomic sampling and nucleic acid sensing
The ecogenomic sampler RoCSI (developed by NOC) has now been commercialised (McLane Research Labs. Inc., USA)
The modular ecogenomic and microplastics sampler have been developed to benchtop prototypes but routes to commercial scale manufacture of core elements have been explored, and development of deployed prototypes has begun
The ecogenomic sensor based on the same platform technology has likewise been developed to benchtop prototype with (end to end) bench and early field testing anticipated in summer 2024
Theme 2 Imaging and optics
This theme has delivered three new image handling (processing) techniques i.e. 1) synthetic image reconstruction, 2) formation models to remove biases in images taken with different camera systems and lighting, 3) Machine learning for feature extraction and classification.
A technique to extract particle size distribution from turbidity sensor data from the Argo float array has been further developed and validated.
Two hardware developments have been undertaken i.e.: 1) UVP6m bench prototype to enable imaging of smaller plankton than UVP6 and 2) successful delivery of the 1st deployable prototype of a miniaturised Single Turnover Active Flurometer MuSTAF
Theme 3 New microsensors
A new bio-assay system in situ sensor concept utilising the modular approach developed together with theme 1 is very novel and promising, but at early stage development (see above). Because of this, we anticipate it will be tested in point-of-analysis but non-submersed settings (i.e. TRL6).
Three multi-analyte biogeochemical sensor deployable prototypes have been delivered i.e.: 1) Total Alkalinity and DIC; 2) Nitrate and Phosphate; 3) Silicate and Phosphate.
A submersible cytometer prototype has also been delivered, but not yet tested.
Theme 1 Ecogenomic sampling and nucleic acid sensing
The ecogenomic sampler RoCSI (developed by NOC) has now been commercialised (McLane Research Labs. Inc., USA)
The modular ecogenomic and microplastics sampler have been developed to benchtop prototypes but routes to commercial scale manufacture of core elements have been explored, and development of deployed prototypes has begun
The ecogenomic sensor based on the same platform technology has likewise been developed to benchtop prototype with (end to end) bench and early field testing anticipated in summer 2024
Theme 2 Imaging and optics
This theme has delivered three new image handling (processing) techniques i.e. 1) synthetic image reconstruction, 2) formation models to remove biases in images taken with different camera systems and lighting, 3) Machine learning for feature extraction and classification.
A technique to extract particle size distribution from turbidity sensor data from the Argo float array has been further developed and validated.
Two hardware developments have been undertaken i.e.: 1) UVP6m bench prototype to enable imaging of smaller plankton than UVP6 and 2) successful delivery of the 1st deployable prototype of a miniaturised Single Turnover Active Flurometer MuSTAF
Theme 3 New microsensors
A new bio-assay system in situ sensor concept utilising the modular approach developed together with theme 1 is very novel and promising, but at early stage development (see above). Because of this, we anticipate it will be tested in point-of-analysis but non-submersed settings (i.e. TRL6).
Three multi-analyte biogeochemical sensor deployable prototypes have been delivered i.e.: 1) Total Alkalinity and DIC; 2) Nitrate and Phosphate; 3) Silicate and Phosphate.
A submersible cytometer prototype has also been delivered, but not yet tested.
Extensive progress beyond the state of the art has been made in this period, and resulting socio-economic and wider societal impacts as expected from this innovative technology focused project, are beginning to be achieved. The principal outputs to date are:
1. New instruments and samplers targeting poorly addressed chemical and biological ocean variables. Three of the twelve new technologies developed are in the hands of commercial partners and ready for exploitation. Eight out of twelve have been deployed. The remaining four have demonstrated extremely high levels of novelty and promise revolutionary characteristics.
2. New methods of data processing and communication, particularly for imaging-based ocean measurement to enable information to be observed from remotely deployed imaging systems over low bandwidth communication links
3. Publications, manuals and procedures that made available through the Ocean Best Practices System.
Wider impacts include:
1. Commercial products (3 to date) and services that will derive socio-economic benefit from new industry.
2. “Enhanced global sea and ocean observation” as requested by the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans initiative and required to support the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and the needs of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
3. Improvements in the ability to measure chemistry and biology in the oceans and related aquatic environments with reduced environmental impact.
4. Increased scientific knowledge ad capacity in marine technology in Europe and beyond
5. Skills development through documentation (OBPS), training and knowledge exchange
6. Development of and compliance with FAIR data principles improving efficiency and data access for all future user groups
1. New instruments and samplers targeting poorly addressed chemical and biological ocean variables. Three of the twelve new technologies developed are in the hands of commercial partners and ready for exploitation. Eight out of twelve have been deployed. The remaining four have demonstrated extremely high levels of novelty and promise revolutionary characteristics.
2. New methods of data processing and communication, particularly for imaging-based ocean measurement to enable information to be observed from remotely deployed imaging systems over low bandwidth communication links
3. Publications, manuals and procedures that made available through the Ocean Best Practices System.
Wider impacts include:
1. Commercial products (3 to date) and services that will derive socio-economic benefit from new industry.
2. “Enhanced global sea and ocean observation” as requested by the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans initiative and required to support the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and the needs of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
3. Improvements in the ability to measure chemistry and biology in the oceans and related aquatic environments with reduced environmental impact.
4. Increased scientific knowledge ad capacity in marine technology in Europe and beyond
5. Skills development through documentation (OBPS), training and knowledge exchange
6. Development of and compliance with FAIR data principles improving efficiency and data access for all future user groups