| Description |
Open and coastal oceans are key areas of defense and security interests. This conference is intended to cover the R&D efforts in the ocean sensing community to provide better solutions to the overall defense and security market by addressing current technology and environmental limitations, system decision, and implementation issues, as well as new technology that may be applied to ocean sensing problems. Specifically, these include topics associated with in situ and remote monitoring of the ocean surface, water column, bathymetric and benthic features, impacts on sensor performance and calibration, data assimilation, and forecasting.
Traditional ocean research techniques are widely augmented today with in situ sampling packages on moorings, buoys, floats, flow-through systems, mobile platforms (gliders, AUVs, and ROVs), integrated sensor networks, and observatories. These are vibrant research and development areas and generate the most accurate data available, 3D, often in real-time, and are less affected by adverse conditions. However, spot sampling lacks the rapid, broad coverage that is critical in high-level real-time tactical decision making. In situ observations at times are not available for unsafe or denied-access environments. Remote sensing techniques (both active and passive) have been proven to offer synoptic surface coverage with adequate accuracy, when sensors are calibrated and validated correctly. It is essential to establish and maintain precise protocols for deciding the appropriate mix and application of different sensor systems in order to maintain data coherence and comparability. Further, modern defense and security needs demand that accurate information be provided when and where it is needed (e.g., Battlespace on Demand). Ocean sensing must provide not only timely and accurate data but also offer insights regarding overall 3D and future environmental conditions, i.e. forecasting. The combined use of in situ observations, remotely sensed data, and physical models is a rapidly evolving field to be effective, although improved assimilation of available data into models still poses a challenge. The ability to sense, integrate, and predict is vital in establishing a true real-time 4D cube of verified and validated information for ocean nowcast and forecast.
This conference is aimed at bringing together research and technical personnel, from industry, governments, and especially academia, to foster cooperation to increase the utility of operational oceanographic assets to meet defense and homeland security concerns.
This conference will benefit from fruitful technical and scientific discussions on these and related topics:
In Situ Sensing and Monitoring
* advancements in instrumentation
* emerging sensing and monitoring techniques, especially chemical and biological
* sensors and platforms: ship-based, buoys, observatories, moorings, UUV/gliders
* real-time observation systems
* data management
* hydrographic surveys and ocean mapping
* harmful algal blooms (HAB), water quality
* adaptive sampling strategies.
Imaging Systems and Signal Processing Techniques
* underwater EO systems: gated, modulated, polarized, 3D, stereo, video
* sonar: synthetic aperture, scanning, multibeam, sidescan
* image processing techniques
* imaging through air-sea interface
* effects of particles, turbulence, bubbles, surface/internal waves.
Characterization and Forecasting of Battlespace Environments
* rapid environment assessment
* marine optical properties: particles/chlorophyll/CDOM
* marine physics: surface and internal waves, currents, tides, small-scale eddies, and turbulence
* benthic and bathymetric properties
* surf zones
* sediment transport and suspension
* riverine environment characterization
* model and data assimilation
* 3D/4D environmental forecasting, uncertainty assessment
* data integration and visualization.
Calibration and Validation of Present and Future Remote Sensing Systems
* site characterization and classification
* protocols
* vicarious methods
* inter-sensor comparison
* uncertainty evaluation
* quality control, data access, management
* cooperative (inter-agency) efforts.
Other Topics
* ocean pollution
* energy harvesting
* sub-sea communications
* policies and education programs
* global warming and homeland security
* climate impacts (hurricanes, long-term trends)
* extreme environments: Arctic, desert, jungle, riverine, tidal flats.
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