208210 'i/ _: i ': t

NASAJCR--./_ 7__/

Draft Final Report to

J / -,,

NASA, Kennedy Space Center

Advanced Projects Office

From

Dr. Charles Bostater

Environmental Optics & Remote Sensing Lab

College of Engineering

bostater_robe.ocn.fit.edu

http://www.ocn.fit.edu

Florida Tech

150 West University Blvd.

Melbourne Florida 32937

March, 1998

Dr. Charles Bostater
I. Introduction & Background

This NASA grant was funded as a result of an unsolicited proposal submission to

Kennedy Space Center. The proposal proposed the development and testing of a shallow

water optical water quality buoy. The buoy is meant to work in shallow aquatic systems

(ponds, rivers, lagoons, and semi-enclosed water areas where strong wind wave action is not

a major environmental factor. The proposal stated that the project was based upon the

integration of a proprietary and confidential sensor and probe design that was developed by

KB Science and Engineering and is currently patented by KB Science. The buoy's purpose

was to collected hyperspectral optical signatures for analysis and resulting estimation of

water quality parameters such as chlorophyll-a, seston and dissolved organic matter (DOC).

The ultimate goal of the project was to develop a buoy that would integrate a probe to

measure upwelling light from a source and thus relate this backscattered light to water

quality parameters.

During the project period a buoy was constructed and integrated the confidential and

proprietary probe or sensor design as originally proposed. A picture of the buoy, probe and

various components have been previously provided to Kennedy Space Center employees

(K. Poimbeouf and D. Britt) at their request.

During the project period of three years, a demonstration of the buoy was conducted.

The last demonstration during the project period was held in November, 1996 when the

buoy was demonstrated as being totally operational with no tethered communications line.

During the last year of the project the buoy was made to be solar operated by large gel cell

batteries. Fund limitations did not permit the batteries in metal enclosures as hoped for

higher wind conditions, however the system used to date has worked continuously for insitu operation of over 18 months continuous deployment.

The system needs to have maintenance and somewhat continuous operational

attention since various components have limited lifetime ages. For example, within the last

six months the onboard computer has had to be repaired as it did approximately 6 months

after deployment. The spectrograph had to be repaired and costs for repairs was covered by

KB Science since no funds were available for this purpose after the grant expired. Most

recently the computer web page server failed and it is currently being repaired by KB

Science. In addition, the cell phone operation is currently being funded by Dr. Bostater in

order to maintain the system's operation. The above points need to be made to allow

NASA to understand that like any sophisticated measuring system in a lab or in the field,

necessary funding and maintenance is needed to insure the system's operational state and to

obtain quality assurance and control of the data collected.

Future needs include the development of a maintenance agreement with KB Science

and Dynamac Corporation at KSC to insure the system is properly operated and quality

assured and data checked as well as to cover routine maintenance costs on a regular basis.

These costs are estimated at approximately 20-25K per year based upon the costs over the

last 12 months to replace key electronic components and manpower costs associated with

operation of the buoy.
II. Publications Completed During Grant Period

Publications made during the grant period which describe the research (supported in part by

the NASA grant) activities of the Marine & Environmental Optics & Remote Sensing Center are

listed below. Support was used for several students listed in the conference proceedings. The first

paper listed is the major paper that describes the buoy project and copies are available from Dr.

Bostater.

1) McNally, T, Keller, M., Bostater, C., 1996, Real Time Monitoring of Water Quality

Parameters Using A Remotely Sensed Data System: Data Acquisition, Transmission,

Analysis, Display and Archiving, In: Global Networks for Environmental Information, ISBN

0-9603590-5-2, Vol. 10, pp. 533-536. (enclosed).

Other related publications:

2) Bostater, C., Rebmann, J., 1997, Analytical Radiative Transfer Modeling For Coastal Water

Quality Remote Sensing: Inclusion of A Fluorescence Term, (Invited Paper), In: Proceedings,

European Aerospace Remote Sensing, EUROPTA, SPIE, London England, SPIE Vol. 3222, pp.

468-475.

3) Bostater, C., 1997, Modeling Water Surface Reflectance Signatures and In-Situ Water Irradiance

Profiles in Shallow Tropical Waters Influenced by Bottom Reflectance, In: Proceedings IEEE

International Geoscience and Remote Sensing, ISBN 0-7803-3836-7, Aug., Vol. 2, pp. 881-884.

4) Bostater, C., Uhlhom, E., 1997, Numerical Simulation of Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Over The Gulf Stream, AGU, Geophysical Research Letters, 10 pp. (In Peer Review).

5) Keller, M., Bostater, C., 1997, Measuring High Resolution Specific Absorption Coefficients For

Use With Hyperspectral Imagery, In: Proceedings, 4 th International Conference on Remote Sensing

for Marine and Coastal Environments, ISSN 1066-3711, Vol. I, pp.197-206.

6) Bostater, C., McNally, T., Ma, W., 1996, Modeling of the Underwater Light Field and Its Effect

On Temperature, Stability and Momentum, SPIE, Vol. 2959, pp. 171-179.

7) Bostater, C., Ma, W., McNally, T., 1996, Advancement of an Optical Remote Sensing Model to

Simulate The Underwater light Field, SHE, Vol. 2959, pp. 180-188.

8) Bostater, C., Keller, M., Gimond, M., 1996, Application of a Flow Through Absorption Tube

For Remotely Estimating Water Quality Parameters, SPIE, Vol. 2959, pp. 265-270.

9) Bostater, C., Ma, W., McNally, T., Gimond, M., Keller, M., Pegaz, M., 1996, Comparison of an

Optical Remote Sensing Model With Reflectance Signatures Collected From an Airborne Sensor

Platform, In: Proceedings 2nd International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition,

San Francisco, CA., ISSN 1076-7924, June, Vol. III, pp. 647-655.
10)Bostater,C., Gimond,M., 1996,UsingAircraft BasedHigh ResolutionReflectanceSignatures

andSpecificAbsorptionCoefficientsto RemotelyEstimateCoastalWaterQuality, In: Proceedings

2nd International Airborne Remote Sensing (_onference and Exhibition, San Francisco, CA., ISSN

1076-7924, Vol. III pp. 635-645

11) Gimond, M., Bostater, C., 1996, Application of Bottom Reflectance Signatures, Specific

Absorption Coefficients and Aircraft Based High Resolution Reflectance Signatures to Remotely

Estimate Water Quality in Optically Shallow Estuarine Waters, In: Global Networks for

Environmental Information, ISBN 0-9603590-5-2, Vol. 10, pp. 521-526.

12) Pegaz, M., Bostater, C., 1997, Application of an Analytical Two Flow Radiative Transfer

Model To Plant Canopies, In: Global Networks for Environmental Information, ISBN 0-9603590-

6-0, Vol. 11, pp. 755-760

13) Hall, C., Bostater, C., Pegaz, M., 1996, Estimates of Plant Canopy Attenuation, Absorption,

and Reflectance Signatures and Their Potential to Estimate Biophysical and Biochemical Plant

Features, In: Global Networks for Environmental Information, ISBN 0-9603590-5-2, Vol. 10, pp.

527-532.

14) Bostater, C., Gimond, M., 1995, Methodology Evaluation for Remotely Estimating Water

Quality Parameters in Estuarine Waters, SPIE, Vol. 2586, pp. 14-25.

15) Bostater, C., Ma, W., McNally, T., Gimond M., Lamb, A., 1995, Application of an Optical

Remote Sensing Model, SPIE Vol. 2586, pp. 32-43.

16) Bostater, C., Rebmann, J., Hall, C., Provancha, M, Vieglas, D., 1995, Temporal measurement

and analysis of high-resolution spectral signatures of plants and relationships to biophysical

characteristics, SPIE, Vol. 2585, pp. 298-311.

17) Bostater, C., Wei-ming Ma, Lamb, A., 1994, Simulating Radiative Transfer in Aquatic Systems

and Contrasting Results from Ambient Environmental Spectroscopy: Estuarine & Near Coastal

Waters, In: Proceedings, Int. Sy'mp. on Spectral Sensing Research, USACE, Vol. 2: 673-682.

18) Bostater, C., Hall, C., Veiglais, D., Rebmann, J., Provancha, M., 1994, Temporal

Measurements of High Resolution Spectral Signatures of Plants and Relationships Indicating Water

Status, In: Proceedings, Int. Svrnp. on Spectral Sensing Research, USACE, Vol. 1: 387-402.

19) Bostater, C., Lamb, A. 1994, Innovative use of in-situ and airborne measurements of

electromagnetic radiation in near shore environments, In: Alternative Technologies in Beach

Preservation, Proceedings National Conference on Beach Preservation Technology, Tallahassee,

FI., June, 1994, pp. 245-251.

20) Bostater, C., 1992, Remote sensing methods using aircraft and ships for estimating optimal

bands & coefficients related to ecosystem responses, SHE, Vol. 1930 (2): 1051-1062.

4
21) Bostater,C., 1993, Mathematicaltechniques for spectral discrimination between corals, sea

grasses, bottom and water types using high resolution reflectance signatures, In: Proceedings

International Symposium on Spectral Sensing Research, 15-20 Nov., 1992, Maui, Hawaii, USACE,

Vol. II, pp. 526-536.

22) Bostater, C., Hall, C., Breininger, D., 1993, High resolution optical signatures and band

selection techniques for endangered species habitat management, In: Proceedings International

Symposium on Spectral Sensing Research, Nov. 15-20, 1992, Maui, Hawaii, USACE, Vol. II, pp.

556-568.

23) Lamb, A., Bostater, C., 1995, Sensitivity Analysis of a Remote Sensing Model, EOS, Vol. 76,

No. 17, p. 178.

Other reports which document activities supported (in part) by the grant are published and

publicly available from University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertation Service, a Bell &

Howell Information Company or by requesting copies from librarians at university or government

library. The thesis reports are listed below:

• Sensitivity Analysis Of An Optical Remote Sensing Model, May 1995, Andrew Lamb, Florida

Tech MS Thesis, Florida Tech.

• A Radio-Drifter Tracking System for the Determination of Surface Circulation in Shallow

Coastal Waters, Aug. 1996, Florida Tech MS Thesis.

Note: This student working on Ph.D. at University of Rhode Island, Marine Science Program

involved with deep ocean buoy research with a leading world expert.

• Methodology Evaluation for Estimating Specific Absorption Coefficients for Water

Constituents for Remote Sensing Applications, Dec. 1996, Florida Tech MS Thesis.

Note: Student now works at NASA, Kennedy Space Center as a remote sensing specialist.

• Sensitivity Analyses of A Coupled Optical and Three Dimensional Hydrodynamic Model, April

1997, Florida Tech MS Thesis.

• Numerical Simulation Of Coastal Atmospheric Circulation In The Presence Of Dynamic

Oceanic Forcing, Dec. 1996, Florida Tech MS Thesis.

Note: Student now works at NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center and NOA_A's National

Hurricane Center as a remote sensing/meteorological scientist.)

• A Simplified, Coupled Hydrodynamics, Floodplains Processes, and Dissolved Oxygen River

Model, Dec. 1995, Florida Tech MS Thesis.
• Testing& EvaluationOf A RealTime ContinuousAbsorptionSpectraLong PathlengthSystem

for WaterQuality andRemoteSensingof CoastalWaterQuality (ln Progress).

Note: Student now works at Kennedy Space Center.

• Development and Sensitivity Analyses of A Remote Sensing Fluorescence Model for Water

Quality Applications in Coastal and Marine Environments (In Progress).

Note: This student now works at Kennedy Space Center.

An Analytical Two-Flow Model To Simulate The Distribution of Irradiance In Coastal Waters

With A Wind Roughened Surface and Bottom Reflectance, May 1997, Wei-ming Ma, Florida

Tech Doctoral Dissertation.

• A Remote Sensing & Environmental Optics Model of Florida Coastal Scrub Plant Communities

in Central Florida, Carlton Hall (In Progress).

Note: Student works at Kennedy Space Center, NASA

Dr. Bostater has also served on master and doctoral committees throughout the university

during the grant period as indicated below. These reports are available at the Florida Tech

library.

• Development and Verification of The Spectral Performance Model of An Imaging Fourier

Transform Spectrometer, 1994.

• Recruitment of Larval Snappers (Family Lutjanidae) Through Sebastian Inlet, Florida, 1994.

• Spatial Analyses Using GIS For Queen Conch Larval Settling in the Bahamas, 1996.

• A Time-Varying Kohonen Network, Dec. 1997
III. Web Page Development For Project

Copies of relevant web pages developed for the buoy project are attached and can be

downloaded by anyone obtaining the source files. Any one having problems obtaining the source

files can contact Dr. Bostater for assistance. The web site for the buoy is located under

h ttp: //prQbe. o cn. f it. ¢du. Web pages were developed to integrate the buoy real time data

availability via the web site for the Environmental Optics and Remote Sensing Lab.

The web pages are running under two Silicon Graphics workstations. The web pages under

the site at www.ocn.fit.edu or system flux.ocn.fit.edu is owned by KB Science who contributed to

the success of this project and has provided modem, ISDN, CPU and hard disk space for the

projects success. Two of the Silicon Graphics workstations used during this project and purchased

under this grant have been returned to Kennedy Space Center as agreed upon.

Additional documentation for the project is included in the Appendix of this final report.

IV. Summary & Conclusions

A shallow water quality buoy has been developed and is available for use to help

assess the effects of rocket launches on nearby ponds and water systems at Kennedy Space

Center. The next phase of an operational project needs to be established for the transfer of

the buoy system to Kennedy Space Center for testing before and aider rocket launches as

originally proposed before the project began. In order to conduct this phase of the operation

of the system, proper quality assurance and control of the system's performance is critical.

This is needed to insure that the data obtained from the system provides accurate and

reliable data when compared with other standard methods of water and wastewater analysis

as prescribed by the US EPA and other agencies at the state and federal governmental

levels. It is proposed that a teaming arrangement be created between KB Science (a small

business who holds a patent for building the probe used on the buoy) and Dynamac

Corporation. The purpose of this arrangement would be to transfer the system to NASA

and for operation of the system in a concerted effort to measure water quality parameters in

the vicinity of the KSC rocket launch complex. This NASA funded project would thus

allow the determination of data QA/QC and limited data access from outside of the NASA

KSC complex.
Appendix & Attachments
ing

of the

aquatic

d

mmm

Diego.

alto

xical

nd

_01-

ssman,

al

7

REAL TIME MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS USING A

REMOTELY SENSED DATA SYSTEM: DATA ACQUISITION, TRANSMISSION,

ANALYSIS, DISPLAY, AND ARCHIVING*

Ted McNally, Melissa Keller, and Charles Bostater

Marine and Environmental Optics Laboratory, Center for Remote Sensing

Marine and Environmental Systems Division

Florida Institute of Technology

150 W. University Blvd.

Melbourne, FL 32901

ABSTRACT

The science of remote sensing and advances in computer

technology and communication systems have made it possible to

monitor water quality parameters (chlorophyll-a, seston, and dissolved

organic matter) in real time. The fundamental processes involved in

such monitoring are acquisition of the remotely senseddata by the

sensor, transmission of the data from the field to a more centrally

located site, analysis and calibration of the data to determine water

quality parameters, display of these parameters as a function of time,

and archival of the data for immediate or future environmental

decision making. Various methods for performing each of the five

processes are described and evaluated. In addition, a case study is

described that is based upon a specially designed shallow water optical

buoy and a high resolution solid state slx_trograph that measures light

over 252 channels from 362 to 1115 nm as the data acquisition sensor.

The data is transmitted from a remote location to Florida Tech where

it is analyzed and correlated to water quality parameters using

derivative spectroscopy described by Bostater (1991). The data is then

displayed, in real time, and archived on an SGI Indigo 2 UNIX-based

workstation. The system described provides real time remote sensing

(ground truth) or reference data as inputs to satellite and aircraft

remote sensing systems via access to the lnternet based data archive.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Increasing awareness of the truly global nature of environmental problems has led to an

explosion in the amounts and types of data requested by physical scientists of all

branches. The spatial and temporal resolutions of the data needed to address these *

• Presented at Eco-Infotma '96, Lake Buena Vista. Florid& 4-7 November 1996.

533
problems were imposing obstacles before the advent of remote sensing as a science. In

today's world, increasing use is being made of technological and scientific advances in

remote sensing to gather the data necessary to make intelligent environmental decisions.

To effectively monitor any facet of the environment in real time requires significant

planning and foresight. Specifically, decisions in five areas of operation of the data

collection system need to be made. These five areas are data acquisition, transmission,

analysis, display, and archiving. This paper begins with a discussion of each of these

areas and ends with a case stud), of a shallow water optical buoy designed to measure

chlorophyll, seston, and dissolved organic matter in real time in remote locations.

Throughout, the emphasis is on optical remote sensing systems.

2.0 FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES

2.1 DATA ACQUISITION

When designing a data acquisition system for remote sensing applications, it is

important to take in to account four fundamental resolutions of the system. Slater

(1980)givesthesefourfundamentalresolutions astemporal,spatial,radiometric,and

spectral.Temporalresolutionreferstothetimescaleofthesamplingsystem.For

instance,tomeasureatmosphericoroceanicturbulence,thesensorwouldhavetobe

capableofrecordingdataattimeintervalsessthanonesecond However,satellites

suchasthcAdvancedVeryHigh ResolutionRadiometer(AVI-IRR)measureparameters

such as sea surface temperature at much greater time intervals (each point is measured

ever,) 8 hours). Spatial resolution refers to the smallest area that the sensor system can

resolve. Again, turbulence measurements would need spatial scales on the order of

centimeters, while satellite scales use to measure other parameters are much greater (on

the order of 10s of kilometers). Radiometric resolution refers to how many discrete steps

the full range of values is divided into. Radiometric resolution can be expressed in bits

where 8 bit resolution gives 256 discrete levels, 10 bit gives 1024 levels, etc.. Spectral

resolution refers to the bandwidth of sensor systems, i.e., how man)' different channels

are sampled, and the bandwidth of each channel. Water quality parameters are sampled

more accurately with a high number of channels in the visible spectrum (from about

400-700 nm) with a small bandwidth (of 1 to 2 nm), while parameters such as sea

surface temperature are routinely measured with high bandwidths and fewer channels.

All four of these parameters need to be considered before the choice of a sensor can be

made.

2.2DATA TRANSMISSION

After the data has been acquired at a remote location, it must be transmitted

back to a more central location for processing. Major considerations for the

transmission of the data are the data through-put rate (how much data is being passed)

all

co

vii

ar_

2.:

sel

C&

re1

mc

wi

fol

tel

(1'

CO

Sl_

fro

de

qu

arc

inx

ca!

op

W

de

2. L

da

foT

se_

de_

di.,

an

ra_

pr_
_ce. In

HS$1on,

these

_sure

s.

,ns, it is

gr

c, and

'or

obe

[ites

_meters

_sured

e_m can

rof

ater (on

_ete steps

in bits

_:ctral

_nels

_mpled

)OUt

_a

mnels.

canbe

Litted

_assed)

and how often is data being returned to the central location. Data that is not transmitted

continuously and that can be sent in small batches less than 10 megabytes can be sent

via modem and phone line, while continuous streams of data consisting of larger batches

are generally sent by radio or microwave.

2.3 DATA ANALYSIS

When the central location receives the data, the raw measurements from the

sensor must be translated into useful parameters to study the medium of interest. In the

case of optical sensors, the fundamental parameter of interest is the irradiance

reflectance, but radiance is also used. However, the sensor measures not only the

medium of interest, but also mea,sa_es light scattered into the sensor for the atmosphere

without ever reaching the medium of interest. This path radiance must be accounted for

and filtered from the signal to get an accurate reading. Various methods for accounting

for the path radiance are beyond the scope of this paper, but the interested reader is

referred to Duntley et al. (1957), Sturm (1981), Klemas and Philpot (1983), and Stumpf

(1987) for two of the techniques that can be used.

For an optical sensor, once the path radiance has been subtracted, the radiance

converted to irradiance, and the irradiance reflectance calculated, the reflectance

spectrum is analyzed to determine the parameter of interest. For example, radiance

from three channels of the AVI-IRR satellite can be used in a simple linear equation to

determine sea surface temperature (Robinson, 1985). In the case of determining water

quality parameters such as chlorophyll, where hypcrspectral, small bandwidth sensors

are used, more involved techniques can be used. One such technique (Bostater, 1991)

involves derivative spectroscopy, where the derivative of the reflectance spectrum is

calculated between various bands, and by regressing these band ratios to measured data,

optimal bands or channels can be selected to measure the parameter of interest.

Whatever technique is used, periodic ground truthing or in situ analysis is required to

develop and maintain the algorithm.

2.4 DATA DISPLAY

For environmental resource managers and regulatory agencies, display of the

data in a coherent, easily understandable form is very important. Figure 1 shows the

form used to display the data from the shallow water optical buoy described'in the next

section. The form of this display provides a good example of the types of displays

desired by environmental managers. With reference to Figure 1, the large window

displays the raw data, in this case the digital count from the sensor measuring the

amount of light upweUing from the water as a function of wavelength. The display of

raw data is important in that it allows for a quick, basic check on the accuracy of the

processed data. The first smaller window in the upper right of the screen displays the

535
ita.

ons of

small

a

f

;_ts of

nsod

The

dysis.

ion to

.'ts are

ity.

_ert

"ective

three

,Her).

Id

onsists

15nm

_h

ure 1)

: made

,n

, or

me

4.0 REFERENCES

C.R. Bostater, "A remote sensing methodology for shipboard and aircraft platforms

using high resolution optical signatures of estuarine and near coastal waters,"

NOAA Final Report, 41 pp., 1991.

S.Q. Duntley, A.R_ Bioleau, and R.W Priesendoffer, d. Opt. Soc. Am. 47, pp 499-510,

1957.

V. Klemas, and W.D. Philpot, "Drift and dispersion studies of ocean dumped waste

using Landsat imagery and current drogues," Photogr. Eng. andRemote

Sensing, 47, pp 533-542, 1983.

I.S. Robinson, Satellite Oceanography, p 218, 1985.

P.N. Slater, Remote sensing optics and optical systems, Addison-Wesley Publishing

Company, Reading, MA, 1976.

R.P. Stumpf, "Application of AVHRR satellite data to the study of sediment and

chlorophyll in turbid coastal water," NOAA technical memorandum NESDIS

AISC 7, 50 pp., 1987.

B. Sturm, "Ocean colour remote sensing and quantitative retrieval of surface chlorophyll

in coastal waters using Nimbus CZCS data.," In: J.F.K Cower (ed.)

Oceanography from Space, Plenum Press, 978 pp., 1981.

537
mla*

i

,i

i • t.ln

-_ t_ "l,

m

, • i.  ̧ _ m m

i

Figure 1. Screen capture sho_ing the graphical display of real time output from a

shalio_' water optical buoy.

Figure 2. The shallo_ water optical buo._

Tt

n(

th,

n_

pc,

ea

HE

• 1_
ShallomHaLer Optical 8uoq

The buoys are operated and maintained

as a collaborative project between

NASA, Kennedy Space Center,

Dynamac Corp, KB S&E and Florida

Tech.

The buoy systems utilized in this water quality monitoring project are designed

to provide water quality data in shallow inland and coastal water types. The

buoys utilize an optical sensing system to measure upwelled or backscattered

light. The optical data are also being used to relate critical hydrological optical

data to airborne and satellite sensors in order to study the earth as a system. Data

collected is sent from onboard computers to a Silicon Graphics powered

Internet Site. The raw data is processed and water quality parameter

concentrations calculated using state of the art standard procedures for

estimating water quality parameters from the optical data. The water quality

algorithms are based upon radiative transfer theory and modem spectroscopy

techniques and are calibrated to standard methods used for water & wastewater

analyses. Buoys are being located in the coastal lagoonal systems of the

Bananna River and planned for locations in the Indian River Lagoon region of

Florida's Space Coast shown in the map below. Clicking on the numbers on the

map, or the links on the right will take you to a page with the data for the

existing and proposed locations. (Click on station #1 as an example). The other

locations are not active for public viewing at this time.

Select the station you are interested in:
II

[]

Station Locations:

• [] Station #1

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #2

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #3

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #4

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• m Station #5

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #6

- (Insert Physical Location here)

To view the latest data that that has been sent via cellular communications to the

internet site, ( i .e., Chlorophyll-a, Seston or Suspended Particulate Matter,

Dissolved Organic Matter or carbon, or the time averaged or sequential

hyperspectral signatures ) use the links below to display a plot of the processed

data.. For additional, information ( e g. parameters and archived plots and data )

access the individual station pages from the map or listings shown above.

Buoy 1

latest.gif

Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 Buoy 5 Buoy 6

Data Not Available For Public Transmission

This page was last revised on 11 November 1996
il

Station Locations:

• [] Station #1

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #2

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #3

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #4

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #5

- (Insert Physical Location here)

• [] Station #6

- (Insert Physical Location here)

To view the latest data that that has been sent via cellular communications to the

internet site, ( i .e., Chlorophyll-a, Seston or Suspended Particulate Matter,

Dissolved Organic Matter or carbon, or the time averaged or sequential

hyperspectral signatures ) use the links below to display a plot of the processed

data. For additional information ( e g. parameters and archived plots and data )

access the individual station pages from the map or listings shown above.

If you have a Java enabled browser you may view buoy data by clicking here.

Buoy 1

raw data

averaged data

chlorophyll data

seston data

DOM data

Buoy 2 Buoy 3 Buoy 4 [Buoy 5 [Buoy 6

Data Not Available For Public Transmission

Data Not Available For Public Transmission

Data Not Available For Public Transmission

Data Not Available For Public Transmission

Data Not Available For Public Transmission

SiliconGraphics _RED UY

This page was last revised on 21 March 1997
45 O .

T

I

1UI%U .

On'dO

I

_" :_n " ?n" -'_n " .qn" i_nl' in"

IltiUl_ 14!11111_11 .I'N,

Seston Data

t_ ?5.

D

tl

C

c.

I1 LI

t r;.n

n I

t

i

0 _5.

rl

ili,o c i Nulqhir,o

DOM Data

L: 75.

D

r!

C,

t.'

,t .";.n

r /

n I

t

i

tl

I '

, t

Scan NuMber

'J ?5.

o

ii

c

q.,

nt¢ _11

_-_

i

O _b.

Ii

._ III I,r,

$cm'_ _u.ber

To view archived data, select a month, day, hour, and parameter from the

tables below and click the "View Plot" button.

Month Day Year Hour Parameter

0 _#conGraphics

This page was last revised on 14 May 1997
Station #1

This space can have specific

information about this location.

Latest Available Data

Raw Data

The next five images are links to the latest

plots of the data in raw, averaged, and

processed form gathered by the optical

buoy at Station 1. The processed data

relates to concentrations of chlorophyll,

seston, and dissolved organic matter

(DOM). To access archived data, please

fill out the form below these images and

submit your request.

415I .

I!

L

u:

1UIbU .

:OOO0

•J'il _I'11 :4"d }llli _1d11 ['tiff IlN'I I IM

kll':._hl_h I 'l-J

Averaged Data Chlorophyl Data
NASA 

National Aeronautics 

and Space New Technology Report Form Approved 

O.M.B. No. 2700-0009 

NT CONTROL NO. (Official Use Only) 

INSTRUCTIONS 

This form may be used when reporting inventions, discoveries, improvements or innovations to NASA. Use of this 

report form is optional; provided, however, that whatever 

report format is used contains the essential information 

requested herein. 

In completing each section, use whatever detail deemed 

appropriate for a "full and complete disclosure," as re1. TITLE Shallow Water Optical Water Quality Buoy 

2. INNOVATOR(S) (Name and Social Security No.) • 

quired by the New Technology or Property Rights in 

Inventions clause. For further guidance as to what 

constitutes a satisfactory report, please refer to NHB 

2170.3, Documentation Guidelines for New Technology 

Reporting. 

Available additional documentation which provides a full, 

detailed description should be attached, as well as any 

additional explanatory sheets where necessary. 

Charles Bostater email: bostater@probe.ocn.fit.edu 

3. EMPLOYER (Organization and Division) 4. ADDRESS (Place of Performance) 

Florida Tech, College of Engineering, DMES, Environmental 150 West University Blvd. Melbourne FI. 32937 

Optics & Remote Sensing Lab 

http://www.ocn.fit.edu 

SECTION 1- DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM THAT MOTIVATED THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 

(Enter A . - General Description of Problem Objective; B. - Key or Unique Problem Characteristics; C. - Past HistorylPrior Techniques; D. - Limitations of Prior 

Technique) 

A. The problem proposed for development and testing was the utilization of a confidential sensor & probe previously developed by 

Dr. Bostater (US Patent Granted) for use on a flotation collar or buoy for collection of water quality data. The buoy system is 

designed for shallow water environments only. 

B. The key problem was the creation of a flotation collar or ballast system that could incorporate a computer, solar panels, 

rechargeable batteries and a cellular phone system that could be automated for collection of hyperspectral signatures of the 

upwelling light from water and the real time communication of the data to a computer with data available via the world wide web 

for transmission anywhere in the world within a couple of minutes from the data being collected. 

C. The buoy system was conceived after testing a confidential probe concept in a wastewater treatment facility. 

D. The concept of an optical buoy is not new. Previous research has demonstrated the concept of floating optical sensors as a 

buoy system. This project was however the first system that utilized a patented probe design in conjunction with a 

hyperspectral sensor system which relays the optical signatures via cellular communications to a computer system where the 

data is immediately available over the world wide web. http://probe.ocn.fit.edu.buoy. The optical signatures are analyzed 

using algorithms or techniques derived from derivative spectroscopy. As such the system is a novel and unique innovation but 

the buoy system itself is not patentable . 

• Supplying this information is voluntary, in accordance with Public Law 93-579 (Privacy Act of 1974). However, it is required for 

eligibility in the establishment of Space Act monetary awards. 

NASA FORM 666A APR 85 PREVIOUS EDITION IS OBSOLETE. 

1. 
SECTION II - TECHNICALLY COMPLETE AND EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE DESCRIPTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT

WAS DEVELOPED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR MEET THE OBJECTIVE (Enteras appropriateA. - Specificdescnptionof item; B. o State of

development;C. - Operationas a unit; D. - Functionaloperation;E, - Supportivetheory; F. . Engineeringspecification;G. - Peripheralequipment; H. - Drawings,

graphs_etc.; I.. Partsoringredientslistsi andJ. - Maintenancet.rellabilityfsafetyfactors_

A. A buoy was constructed jointly with funding from NASA and from KB Science & Engineering for a flotation collar with a donut

type of shape, The buoy was painted a bright yellow color and 2 large gel batteries where mounted to the top of the flotation

collar along with two large solar panels for recharging the batteries. In side of the collar is a 12 inch PVC pipe which holds a

computer and cellular phone. A hyperspectral sensor provided by KB Science & Engineering is powered as part of the probe

which the flotation collar holds.

g. The development of the system is complete. There are some improvements to the flotation collar that could be made by using

materials that have a lesser degree corrosion in a marine or freshwater environment. Other than this, the system is operational

for sending hyperspectral signatures via cellular communications to a computer.

C. The system operates as 2 components. One system is the flotation collar with the batteries, solar panels, computer and cellular

phone. This system was developed for this NASA grant. The computer and cellular phone sends the sensor data to a remote

computer system. The second system that was built for the flotation collar or buoy was an enlarged probe designed using

confidential and patent pending probe technology by KB Science & Engineering.

O. The buoy system which supplies the power and computer and cellular link is fully operational as a stand alone operational unit

and as such can be used to integrate other sensors. This aspect of the project was kept in mind during the buoy development

process. As such, other sensors and instruments can be integrated on the buoy, However our goal was to design the buoy as a

flotation collar to accept the optical probe. This is what makes the buoy system unique and novel or innovative, but not

patentable since buoys have been made for many years.

E. The supportive theory is limited to the operation of the 2 systems. The first is based upon common buoy designs that

demonstrate the use of flat discus buoys. The second part of the theory of operation has to do with the measurement of high

resolution optical signatures of water based upon radiative transfer theory.

F. The engineering specifications can be found in any basic engineering book on design of floating objects or books and reports on

design of buoys.

G. Equipment used in the buoy are rechargeable gel cell batteries, solar panels to recharge the cells. A dry air system to provide

dry air to the non-contact backscatter probe, a single board computer with a cellular modem, PCMCIA card slot, and a cellular

phone that can be automated and all equipment run via 12 or 6 volts.

H. The unit can not be operated in high wind wave conditions. The system is meant for shallow waters that are semi-enclosed

aquatic systems, ponds, lakes and or lagoons. The aluminum flotation collar must be properly painted and originally constructed

in such a manner that corrosion is minimized. The system has to have zinc's changed and removed periodically to assist in this

manner. The flotation collar must be painted with anti-fouling paint and repainted occasionally (once a year or every 6 months)

depending on the quality of the waters where the units are placed. The system should be quite suitable for location in water or

aquatic systems near the vicinity of rocket launches for monitoring rocket launch impacts on aquatic systems when integrated

with other sensors such as standard pH sensors, etc.

=

I SECTION II (Cont.)
SECTION III - UNIQUE OR NOVEL FEATURES OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE RESULTS (OR BENEFITS OF ITS

APPLICATION (Enter as appropriate A. - Novel or unique features; B. - Development or Conceptual Problems C. - Operating Characteristics, test data, D. -

Analysis of capabilities; E.. - Source of error;, and F. - Advantages/shortcomings

,

I SECTION III (Cont.
D. LIST THE DATES AND ANY PARTICULARLY PERTINEr, TPA(

AVAILABLE BUT NOT ATTACHED

SECTION IV - ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (Includeorlistbelowanypl

technology,IF NOT TOO BULKYOR DIFFICUL T TO REPRODUCE, INCLUDECOPIES W

but NOT includedin thisreport(due to theirbeingnonessentialto a basicunderstandingof t

A. AVAILABLE

DOCUMENTS

(Check and

complete)

1. PAPERS, ARTICLES

2. CONTRACTOR

REPORTS

3. ENGINEERING SPECS.

E. DEGREE OF TECHNOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Check

of technological significance of this technology)

[] 1. MODIFICATION TO EXISTING TECHNOLOGY

BREAKTHROUGH

COMMENTS

_rtinent documentation which aids in the understanding or application of the new

'TH THIS REPOR 7". For those references or additional documentation available

_e new technology and which may be costly to handle) comp/ete item A, below)

10. OTHER (Specify)

4. ASSEMB_Y/MFG. DRAWINGS

5. PARTS C R INGRED. LIST

6. OPERAT NG MANUALS

B. INDICATE THE DATES OR THE APPROXIMATE TIME PERIOD D!

(i.e. conceived, constructed, tested, etc.)

7. TEST DATA

8. ASSEMBLY/MFG. PROCED.

9. COMPUTER TAPES/CARDS

_It'_-MATI 11:3E /_ PiE II_IMf'_IIATf_ID I(_'l

I]_'t_l'C_"_/FI'ICR'TNT_ t'Ct3Rt_L_3_3/VAS DEVELOPED

C. LIST THE FIRST PUBLICATION OR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THL4;FECHNOLOGY, AND DATES

n you

[]
National Aeronautics and .....................

Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899

Reply to AttJn Of _[v' l- I;',

k q16 1698

Florida Institute of Technology

Attn: Charles Bostater

150 W. University Blvd.

Melbourne, FL 32901-6988

Subject: NASA Grant NAG10-0151, "DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING

OF AN OPTICAL WATER QUALITY BUOY"

This is a reminder that complete closeout of the subject

grant cannot be made until you have complied with the Patent

Rights Clause by either reporting the new

technology/inventions made under the subject grant or

certifying that there were none.

As a commercialization incentive, this clause allows you to

retain the rights to all technology/inventions resulting

from your grant performance. However, they are required to

be reported to NASA even if you do not plan or elect to

seek patent protection. Also, each new technology/invention

will be considered for publication in the NASA Tech Brief

Journal, which provides proper credit and a minimum award of

$150.00 to each innovator.

Compliance with this clause may be accomplished by

completing and returning the enclosed Report of New

Technology/Inventions (File 1002). This report should be

sent directly to me with a copy to the" KSC Contracting

Officer. Copies of the detailed descriptions themselves need

not be forwarded to the KSC Contracting Officer. You may

provide "the detailed description for each new technology

listed by using the enclosed New Technology Report, NASA

Form 666A, also available electronically on the internet at

h t tp://technology, ksc. nasa. gov/DOC/n tr. h tml.

If you have any questions on how to submit your new

technology/invention or comply with the Patent Rights

Clause, please call Ms. Joyce Haskell at (407) 867-6374. To

avoid any delay in closing out your grant, it is requested

that the Report of New Technology/Inventions be provided

within two (2) weeks.

File162:FOLLOW-UP
/

/

/

/

/

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899

Technology Transfer Officer

EncloSures:

File 1002

NASA Form 666A

File 162 :FOLLOW-UP
/

REPORT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY/INVENTIONS

(Required by New Technology or Patent Rights Clause)

i. Name and Address of Contractor -

Florida Institute of Technology

Attn: Charles Bostater

150 W. Uniwezsity Blvd.

Melbourne, FL 32901-6988

2. Contract/Grant Number - NAG10-0151

3. List _ach New TechnolQ_qy/i_%_ea2e_ms by Title and Innovator's Name.

NOTE: On the attached NASA Form 666A, fill out a detailed description

(including drawings) for each New Technolo@y/_,._n@_ listed.

4. List each New Technology/Invention on which Contractor elects to

% ,, • _ !

5. List subcontracts containing New Technology or Patent Rights Clause

(if "None", so state). Provide name, address and subcontract number.

6. Certif_eby made to the following: (check "a" or "b")

a._,New Technol_/Inventions listed above are all of the items

required to be reported.

b. No New Technology/Inventions were made under the

contract/grant identified above.

_V

Name/Title of Authorized Contractor

Date: ____

File 1002
:iL'
(__i,-

n,,

_CO

o

O0

0

0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

,. LL_.,

. , ._ -..._,,_,:7:

. . _ -i _:...._ .-_+_._.'..: _ . _ -. . ,:_ .,_'_+ •

l

.. ,,