By Evan Shapiro

The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the planet, but over 80 percent has never been explored, let alone mapped, measured or studied. This disparity has resulted in an extraordinary data gap.

Bridging this gap would open the door to insights and opportunities as vast as the ocean itself.  Improved access to ocean data could support climate change mitigation, offshore wind farm design, sustainable fishing practices, marine biodiversity conservation and ship navigation, to name but a few.

Marine technology transformation at speed is helping to close this data gap. The rapid advancement in ocean technology has transformed how marine professionals approach environmental monitoring and operational planning. As these technologies mature, it signifies a change for the better for data collection, analysis and utilization, paving the way for more dynamic and real-time responses to environmental challenges.

Embracing these innovations will be key to unlocking the full potential of our oceans for sustainable development, and hardware interoperability is critical. This requires an open connectivity standard for maritime: a USB for the sea, to ensure easy and ubiquitous device connection.

Open Connectivity Standards

The adoption of open connectivity standards in marine technology has revolutionized how devices and sensors are integrated. Open connectivity standards make it as easy as possible for everyone to adhere to the same framework, similar to how having a single adapter for all our home electronic devices simplifies compatibility and usability. These standards facilitate a plug-and-play setup, significantly reducing installation times and costs traditionally associated with ocean data collection.

The Bristlemouth standard, for instance, enables diverse marine sensors and devices to communicate seamlessly. When implemented in systems such as Sofar’s Spotter platform, it allows for an even more flexible and efficient deployment of technology, enhancing the ability to monitor and analyze marine environments. Recently, Stream Ocean used Bristlemouth’s plug-and-play connectors for a tailored monitoring solution for clients, combining its underwater camera system with Sofar’s Spotter and Smart Mooring solutions.

The benefits from this simplicity should not be underestimated. Consider a researcher monitoring coral reef health who needs to measure both subsurface temperature (to track potential bleaching) and water clarity using a turbidity sensor (to determine if conditions are suitable for diving and research) at the same location. Without an open connectivity standard such as Bristlemouth, these devices would likely need to be deployed separately, requiring different sources of power and connectivity, making the integration process costly and complex. This integration capability is crucial for developing more detailed and functional oceanographic models and for enhancing the accuracy of marine assessments. Fundamentally, it lowers the cost and complexity of collecting multiple types of ocean data simultaneously. More data means more insights, which in turn results in improved operations, model accuracy and better assessments.

The benefits of open connectivity standards extend beyond coral reefs. Ocean currents are a fundamental aspect of marine environments, influencing everything from climate patterns to marine biology. Understanding currents is instrumental when it comes to plotting efficient and safe shipping routes, tracking the movement of marine species, selecting the location of an offshore wind site or fish farm, and studying ocean heat distribution for climate change research.

The complexity and local variability of currents, however, makes them difficult to measure. Historically, the tools available for collecting detailed, real-time underwater current data have been prohibitively expensive, complex and limited in their deployment capabilities, particularly in challenging marine environments.

The recent development of integrated data collection platforms such as Bristlemouth offers a new way to better understand currents. These systems provide modular and scalable solutions, enabling the collection of diverse marine data, including current speed and direction, in addition to other variables, such as temperature and pressure, through a single deployment.

Such systems enable marine professionals to deploy sensors quickly and retrieve data immediately, which is essential for timely analyses and decision making for environmental monitoring and offshore engineering.

Accelerating Offshore Wind Buildout with Open Standards

One practical application of open connectivity standards for current monitoring is in the planning and construction of offshore wind farms. Accurate real-time data on ocean currents is critical for optimal turbine placement, ensuring stability and efficiency. Integrated data platforms help engineers design foundations to withstand marine conditions and align turbines for maximum energy capture with minimal environmental impact. When devices and sensors are siloed, processes become more time consuming and costs begin to rise.

Furthermore, enhanced understanding of ocean currents means safer commutes for workers traveling to and from these offshore sites. Knowing the exact conditions and being able to access data remotely in real time through integration with Spotter allows for better planning of travel routes and schedules, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring safer working environments.

Technological advancements in ocean data collection have marked a significant leap forward in our ability to understand and manage marine environments. By integrating open connectivity standards and real-time data collection systems, we are now better equipped to understand complex ocean variables, such as currents, and apply these learnings to enhance the accuracy of marine assessments, and improve the planning and execution of offshore projects. As we continue to embrace and develop these technologies, we unlock new possibilities for exploring and conserving our oceans, ultimately contributing to a more informed, sustainable and resilient maritime future.

Evan Shapiro is the CTO at Sofar Ocean.