ST Conference Preview

Oceans ’12 MTS/IEEE Hampton Roads




The OCEANS ’12 MTS/IEEE Hampton Roads conference will be held October 14 to 19 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Sponsored by the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Oceanic Engineering Society of IEEE (IEEE/OES), the conference will showcase research and product development in ocean science and bring together maritime users, decision makers and technical experts to discuss and address a variety of industry issues.

The conference theme, “Harnessing the Power of the Ocean,” ties in to the U.S. National Ocean Policy and its goals, which were developed and proposed by the National Ocean Research Leadership Council in response to the U.S. Congress request to “propose a plan to achieve a truly integrated ocean observing system.”


Technical Programs and Events
The conference schedule includes four days of technical sessions and kicks off with keynote addresses by several speakers, including Kathryn D. Sullivan, deputy administrator of NOAA, and Donald C. Winter, former secretary of the U.S. Navy. OCEANS ’12 will focus on emerging technologies and several special topics, such as the development of a National Ocean Enterprise to address sea-level rise and what will be required to establish such an enterprise.

As many as 200 technical sessions will feature more than 900 papers covering specific technical tracks, which include underwater acoustics and acoustical oceanography; sonar signal and image processing and communication; ocean-observing platforms, systems and instrumentation; remote sensing and ocean-data visualization; modeling and information management; marine environment; oceanography and meteorology; optics, imaging, vision and electromagnetic systems; marine law; policy management and education; offshore structures and technology; and ocean vehicles and floating structures.

Receptions and icebreakers will take place, as well as opportunities to network with marine technology users and developers. Participants can also attend preconference tutorials, i.e., “Acoustic Seabed Classification with Multibeam and Side Scan Images and Storm Tides and Sea Level Change: A Tutorial on Water Levels,” and technical workshops on topics such as AUVs and marine spatial planning.

Three days of exhibits will feature approximately 200 exhibitors, who will have an opportunity to engage with an expanded and diverse maritime customer set, including the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA. Additionally, Old Dominion University will host University Row, inviting colleges and universities to exhibit their oceans-related capabilities and to sponsor attendance of their students and faculty.


Conference Venue
Home to the largest naval base in the world and the third-largest port on the East Coast, Hampton Roads provides a location close to decision makers from the U.S. government, as well as its cultural and recreational assets.

The Virginia Beach Convention Center is located less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. Hampton Roads, comprised of 10 independent cities and six counties in southeast Virginia, is home to more than 1.7 million people and offers a rich maritime history and a diverse cross section of military, private and public sectors, and academia.


Editor’s Note
Copies of this issue will be available at OCEANS ’12 MTS/IEEE Hampton Roads at the Sea Technology stand (booth 1302). For editorial or advertising questions, see Amos Bussmann.


Registration
For registration, visit www.oceans12mtsieeehamptonroads.org.


Exhibitor List
The following list of exhibitors was updated at press time:

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