NOAA Technical Report NOS CO-OPS 34

Ocean Systems Test and Evaluation Program (OSTEP)

Development Plan 

Silver Spring, Maryland

April 2001

noaa National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Ocean Service

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services
Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services

National Ocean Service

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. Department of Commerce

The National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and

Services (CO-OPS) collects and distributes observations and predictions of water levels and

currents to ensure safe, efficient and environmentally sound maritime commerce. The Center

provides the set of water level and coastal current products required to support NOS'

Strategic Plan mission requirements, and to assist in providing operational oceanographic

data/products required by NOAA's other Strategic Plan themes. The Center manages the

National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON), and a national network of Physical

Oceanographic Real-Time Systems (PORTSTM) in major U.S. harbors. The Center:

establishes standards for the collection and processing of water level and current data;

collects and documents user requirements which serve as the foundation for all resulting

program activities; designs new and/or improved oceanographic observing systems; designs

software to improve CO-OPS' data processing capabilities; maintains and operates

oceanographic observing systems; performs operational data analysis/quality control; and

produces/disseminates oceanographic products.
NOAA Technical Report NOS CO-OPS 34

Ocean Systems Test and Evaluation Program (OSTEP)

Development Plan 

Mark Bushnell

April 2001

noaa National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Don Evans, Secretary Scott B. Gudes, Acting Under Secretary for Oceans and 

 Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator

National Ocean Service

Margaret A. Davidson, Acting Assistant Administrator

for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management

 

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services

Michael Szabados, Acting Director
NOTICE

Mention of a commercial company or product does not constitute an

endorsement by NOAA. Use for publicity or advertising purposes of

information from this publication concerning proprietary products or

the tests of such products is not authorized.
iii

Table of Content

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................... v

1.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................ 1

1.1 Purpose of Document ................................................. 1

1.2 CO-OPS Mission Statement ........................................... 1

1.3 Background ........................................................ 1

1.3.1 National Water Level Observation Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.3.2 National Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.4 Goals & Objectives of an Ocean System Test & Evaluation Program . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.4.1 Evaluation of New Technology for Use in Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.4.2 Integration & Test of Systems Under Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

1.4.3 Development Test & Evaluation ................................... 3

1.4.4 Life cycle Evaluation of Systems .................................. 4

1.5 Partners ........................................................... 4

1.5.1 Old Dominion University, CCPO .................................. 4

1.5.2 National Institute of Standards & Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.5.3 Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.5.4 Other Potentially Interested Entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.6 Relationship to Other Test Facilities ..................................... 5

1.6.1 Field Research Center - US Army Corps of Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.6.2 NWS/NDBC .................................................. 6

2.0 REQUIREMENTS ....................................................... 7

2.1 CO-OPS Data Quality Assurance Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.2 National Water Level Network Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.3 National PORTSTM Program Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.4 National Current Program Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.5 OSTEP Data Management & Network Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.6 Field Site Environmental Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2.7 Test & Evaluation Plan Requirements .................................... 11

2.8 CO-OPS Information Systems Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.0 TECHNICAL APPROACH ................................................ 13

3.1 ISO 25 Accreditation Process .......................................... 13

3.2 Facility Organization & Staff Competencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.3 Test & Evaluation Process and Planing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.4 Software Quality Assurance Process ..................................... 15

3.5 Total Quality Assurance Process ........................................ 15

3.5.1 General Considerations .......................................... 16

4.0 FACILITY MANAGEMENT .............................................. 17

4.1 Facility Management Organization ...................................... 17
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4.2 Facilities Description ................................................. 17

4.3 Test Equipment ..................................................... 19

4.3.1 Field Oceanographic Reference Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4.4 Staff Position Descriptions ............................................ 20

4.4.1 Technical Manager ............................................. 20

4.4.2 Quality Assurance Manager ...................................... 20

4.4.3 Facility Operations Manager ...................................... 20

4.4.4 T&E Staff .................................................... 20

4.4.5 IT Staff ....................................................... 20

4.5 Financial Management ................................................ 21

4.6 Advisory Board ..................................................... 21

5.0 REFERENCES ........................................................ 23

APPENDICES .............................................................. 25

 I Schedule ........................................................... 27

II New Sensors ........................................................ 29

III OSTEP Budget ...................................................... 31
v

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The burden on the Nation’s coastal ocean and waterways continues to grow at an accelerating

rate, while insufficient resources are available to adequately monitor even the most basic

parameters. Advances in technology and communications systems offer a wide variety of

potential solutions, also at an accelerating rate. The challenge is to introduce these new

capabilities into existing monitoring networks in a cost effective and responsible manner.

A variety of coastal programs are presently in the early stages of development. Through them

there here is a growing awareness of the value of existing infrastructure and the difficulty of

operating permanent monitoring systems. NOS should be prepared to accept the logical demand

for additional sensors.

The OSTEP seeks to facilitate the transition of new technology to an operational status, selecting

newly developed sensors or systems from the research and development community and bringing

them to a monitoring setting. OSTEP will also provide quantifiable and defensible justifications

for the use of existing sensors and methods for selecting new systems. The program will establish

and maintain field reference facilities where, in cooperation with other agencies facing similar

challenges, devices will be examined in a non-operational field setting. Through OSTEP,

sensors will be evaluated, quality control procedures developed, and maintenance routines

generated. The quality of the reference systems used in the field will be assured by both rigorous

traceable calibrations and redundant sensors.
vi
1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose of Document

This document is a plan for the development of an OSTEP and the establishment of an Ocean

Systems Test & Evaluation Facility (OSTEF) in Chesapeake, VA, in cooperation with the Old

Dominion University, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Naval

Surface Warfare Center/Carderock Division.

1.2 CO-OPS Mission Statement

The National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services

(CO-OPS) collects and distributes observations and predictions of water levels and currents to ensure

safe, efficient and environmentally sound maritime commerce. The Center provides the set of water

level and coastal current products required to support NOS' Strategic Plan mission requirements, and

to assist in providing operational oceanographic data/products required by NOAA's other Strategic

Plan themes. For example, CO-OPS provides data and products required by the National Weather

Service to meet its flood and tsunami warning responsibilities. The Center manages the National

Water Level Observation Network (NWLON), and a national network of Physical Oceanographic

Real-Time Systems (PORTSTM) in major U.S. harbors. The Center; establishes standards for the

collection and processing of water level and current data, collects and documents user requirements

which serve as the foundation for all resulting program activities, designs new and/or improved

oceanographic observing systems, designs software to improve CO-OPS' data processing

capabilities, maintains and operates oceanographic observing systems, performs operational data

analysis/quality control, and produces/disseminates oceanographic products. 

The Center is divided into four Divisions to address various functionally important areas. The

divisions are Requirements & Development, Field Operations, Products and Services, and

Information Systems.

1.3 Background

1.3.1 National Water Level Observation Network

CO-OPS is responsible for the management of the U.S. National Water Level Program (NWLP). The

foundation of this program is the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON), a network

of water level measurement stations in the U.S. coastal ocean, including the Great Lakes and

connecting waterways, and in U.S. Trust Territories and Possessions.

The data and information from the NWLON represent one of the most unique and valuable

geophysical data sets available. In addition to about 140 continuously operating NWLON stations

in U.S. tidal regions and 49 continuously operating stations in the Great Lakes, the Center operates

about 50 temporary water level measurement stations each year in support of National Ocean Service

mapping and charting, hydrography, and Great Lakes waterresources management. Several stations

have continuous data series starting in the mid and late 1800's. Data and information are available

from several thousand additional locations in the U.S. coastal ocean where shorter series of
2

observations have been collected. Networks of local bench marks maintained at each location are

used to maintain and update vertical reference systems.

Using the foundation provided by the NWLON, the NWLP provides for the determination of and

maintenance of vertical reference datums used for surveying and mapping, dredging, and coastal

construction, water level regulation, marine boundary determination, tide prediction, and for analysis

of long-term water level variations and trends.

1.3.2 National Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System

The National PORTSTM provides observations and predictions of oceanographic and marine

meteorological conditions for decision support in which life and property are at risk. A legal liability

for the observations and predictions demands that PORTSTM provide information which is of the best

quality available. The measurement quality must support not only direct application of the data to

decisions, but also derived products and services such as computer model simulations based on

real-time data assimilated into the model. Derived products and services place an additional level

of accuracy on the measurements obtained by PORTSTM. PORTSTM measurements must be of

sufficient accuracy so that the derived products and services maintain the level of accuracy required

for decision support. For example, water levels generated by a nowcast model for real-time

underkeel clearance applications must have a similar level of accuracy as the direct observations.

1.4 Goals & Objectives of an Ocean System Test & Evaluation Program

The goal of the Ocean Systems Test & Evaluation Program (OSTEP) is to provide a non-operational

setting in which to test and evaluate oceanographic and marine meteorological sensors and systems.

OSTEP will facilitate the introduction of new sensors into an operational setting by providing test

data quality assurance to a level required for NOS to accept legal liability for observations and

derived navigation safety products and services.

There are five objectives of OSTEP:

1) Evaluation of new technology for use in measurement systems;

2) Integration and testing of field measurement systems;

3) Development, test and evaluation to determine measurement system readiness for

operational deployment, 

4) Life cycle evaluation of system performance, operations, and maintenance, and;

5) To provide and oversee the establishment of quality control parameters that will be used by

the Continuous Operational Real Time Monitoring System (CORMS).

OSTEP will provide three basic data quality assurance capabilities;

1) Measurement standards traceable to the NIST of sufficient accuracy in the field to determine

an uncertainty budget for measurements used directly as observations and for hydrodynamic

model predictions,
3

2) Legally identifiable independent organization and management with the authority and

resources needed to meet the goal; and

3) A quality process appropriate to the type, range and volume of calibration and testing

activities to meet the most demanding CO-OPS product and service quality assurance

requirements.

CO-OPS will provide the capability through partnerships, including: 1) existing and continuing

contracts with the Naval Surface Warfare Center/Carderock Division, 2) the Cooperative Institute

for Coastal Physical Oceanography recently formed with the Old Dominion University, and

3) planned participation in the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)

operated by the NIST. OSTEP will be accredited against ISO 25 standards under the NIST NVLAP

to ensure that the three capabilities are continuously improved to meet evolving program

requirements.

1.4.1 Evaluation of New Technology for Use in Programs

The NOS acquires new technology for integration into oceanographic and marine meteorological

measurement systems. NOS must evaluate the advantages in a life cycle sense of the incorporation

of the new technology into NWLON and PORTSTM. The OSTEP must provide the opportunity for

NOS and instrument makers to evaluate, under realistic field conditions, the performance and

reliability of new sensors, data communications, and data collection/acquisition software and

hardware. OSTEP must develop and maintain detailed test and evaluation standards as well as a

credible field facility, in order to certify the performance of systems to support NOS programs and

to attract instrument makers to utilize OSTEP to evaluate their equipment.

1.4.2 Integration & Test of Systems Under Development

OSTEP must provide the capability to Integrate and Test (I&T) systems under development at field

sites around the country. Systems which can be tested early in their development under realistic field

conditions are more likely to perform well over their life cycle than those which undergo their first

realistic environmental conditions upon operational deployment.

During I&T the system is incrementally built and interfaces tested across the adjoining subsystems.

Not all subsystems may be available during I&T. OSTEP must provide the ability to simulate

subsystem components not yet available. This is often done by computer simulation of the

characteristics of missing subsystems.

1.4.3 Development Test & Evaluation

End-to-end systems test will be conducted under OSTEP to determine the readiness for operational

deployment at customer/user sites. Fully integrated systems will encounter realistic environmental

conditions at OSTEF. All components of the system to be deployed will be tested system wide. The

actual power and communications links may not be the same as actual deployed conditions but

should be as realistic as possible.
4

The results of the development test & evaluation will be formally reviewed to receive approval to

deploy for operations at the remote customer/user's site.

1.4.4 Life cycle Evaluation of Systems

The OSTEP will utilize at least one PORTSTM site which will test life cycle performance including

measurement accuracy, reliability, availability, and maintainability. This system will be used as the

PORTSTM demonstration system for marketing as well as in day-to-day ship operations in the

Norfolk, VA, area.

1.5 Partners

1.5.1 Old Dominion University, CCPO

The Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography (CCPO) at Old Dominion University has a long

working affiliation with the FOD. The CCPO was established by the Commonwealth in 1992 to

facilitate innovative research in the coastal ocean. The center has built an international reputation

for such research.

The CCPO has characterized the oceanographic and marine meteorological conditions of the

OSTEF. Their knowledge of marine hydrodynamics will help to establish the cause and effect for

physical processes which will provide variability in the test environment. Their expertise in field

oceanographic data collection, analysis, and modeling will assist in the interpretation of test results.

NOAA personnel work at the CCPO on a real-time model of the circulation of Chesapeake Bay

called the Chesapeake Bay Operational Forecast System (CBOFS). The use of CBOFS with data

from OSTEP will greatly enhance the understanding of the assimilation of real-time observations

into computer hydrodynamic models.

1.5.2 National Institute of Standards & Technology

The calibration services of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are designed

to help the makers and users of precision instruments achieve the highest possible levels of

measurement quality and productivity. Their services constitute the highest order of calibration

services available in the United States. They directly link a customer's precision equipment or

transfer standards to national and international measurement standards. These services are offered

to public and private organizations and individuals alike.

The NIST maintains the absolute standards for temperature, electrical conductivity, pressure, and

fluid flow which are essential to the establishment of measurement error budgets. NIST also

administers the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program to accredit facilities to ISO

25 measurement standards and procedures. The NIST has two roles in the establishment of OSTEP;

1) transfer of standards to OSTEP, and 2) accreditation of OSTEP.

1.5.3 Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division

The Naval Surface Warfare Center/Carderock Division (NSWC/CD) provides unique water tank

facilities and measurement test equipment to calibrate current meters for use in PORTSTM. Staff
5

hydrodynamicists are available to transfer primary fluid flow measurement standards from NIST to

the OSTEP field site.

1.5.4 Other Potentially Interested Entities

It is anticipated that other organizations close to the selected OSTEF site will have an interest in the

program. These groups include:

Cooperative Institute for Coastal Physical Oceanography

The Cooperative Institute for Coastal Physical Oceanography was jointly created in 1998 by

ODU and NOS to facilitate the development and operational utilization of scientific and

technological advances in oceanography.

NOAA Atlantic Marine Center in Norfolk, VA

The NOAA Atlantic Marine Center manages the Atlantic Hydrographic Field Branch which

surveys the bathymetry in the Bay.

US Army Corps of Engineers, Field Research Facility in Duck, NC

Open since 1977, the FRF is internationally recognized for its coastal studies. Central to the

facility is a 560 meter long pier and unique specialized equipment.

US Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District maintains the channels of the ports in the

area and provides permits and other in-kind services.

Greater Hampton Roads Maritime Industry

The Greater Hampton Roads Maritime Industry ranges from pilots to freight forwarders who

are keenly interested in research and operations that will increase their competitiveness. The

National Association of Maritime Organizations (NAMO) is located in Hampton Roads and

works with all U.S. Maritime organizations to promote safe and efficient maritime commerce.

US Coast Guard Facility Design Division, Norfolk, VA

The FOD has long standing relations with the U.S. Coast Guard Facility Design Division,

through the local aids to navigation and search and rescue functions.

1.6 Relationship to Other Test Facilities

1.6.1 Field Research Center - US Army Corps of Engineers

The Army Corps of Engineers maintains a Field Research Facility (USACE/FRF) in Duck, NC. The

coastal location, together with the extensive specialized instruments located there, provides a unique

setting for the evaluation of marine sensors, especially wave sensors and radar derived surface

currents. In the past, wave observations at the FRF have been used to develop an understanding of

their impact on the beach profile. Radar derived surface currents have been evaluated with emphasis

on maximizing range. The OSTEP will evaluate such sensors as appropriate for specific application
6

to PORTSTM. The OSTEP will seek a formal alliance with the USACE/FRF similar to the FRF

agreement with the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC).

1.6.2 NWS/NDBC

The primary observations of NDBC, coastal meteorology to support the National Weather Service

(NWS), are the ancillary observations of CO-OPS. Likewise, the CO-OPS focus on water levels has

been a collateral task at NDBC. It is well recognized that the two centers have a synergistic

relationship, but their primary functions are unique. A variety of cooperative investigations are

envisioned. A good example would be the evaluation of a microwave bridge clearance sensor,

highly desired at several PORTSTM. Since the device is also capable of observing wave height and

period, NDBC has expressed interest for use at CMAN stations.
7

2.0 REQUIREMENTS

2.1 CO-OPS Data Quality Assurance Requirements

For every scientific or technical investigation, a means must be provided to assure that the data used,

are sufficiently accurate to support the objectives of the investigation.

A mechanism to attain such accuracy is the Data Quality Assurance (DQA) plan. Such a plan

provides for the selection and certification of measurement devices, the specification of procedures

to be used in both field and laboratory operations, and processing and evaluation of the data

collected. Evaluation of the data includes the specification of acceptable limits of accuracy and the

definition of the causes of errors. The DQA plan also provides for continuous monitoring of the data

collection process to see that specified procedures are followed, that error analyses are being used

to control data quality, that data meet program objectives, and that data quality is known at all times.

This document provides information and guidance so that data collection activities in marine

measurement programs can be effectively planned, controlled, and reported. Recommendations are

made on the type and organization of activities needed for collecting data compatible with the intent

of such programs.

The guidance in this document is general; it can be used to develop a DQA plan for any type of

measurement program. It is presented in a logical sequence for developing a DQA plan. Once a DQA

plan is completed and has been reviewed by management, it becomes an integral part of the

measurement program and provides a systematic wayto control the uncertainty of the collected data.

2.2 National Water Level Network Requirements

The National Water Level Observation Program provides basic tidal datums to determine U.S.

coastal marine boundaries and for nautical chart datums. It also provides support for NOAA's

tsunami and storm surge warning programs, climate monitoring, coastal processes and tectonic

research. The Program contributes to safe vessel navigation and the increased efficiency of maritime

transportation. In the Great Lakes the Program supports water management and regulation,

navigation and charting, river and harbor improvement, power generation, scientific studies and

adjustment for vertical movement of the Earth's crust in the Great Lakes Basin.

The Program's operational component is the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON).

The NWLON consists of approximately 170 water level measurement stations distributed along U.S.

coasts, in the Great Lakes and connecting channels, and in the U.S. territories and possessions. One

hundred forty stations are considered "long-term control" and "primary" stations. These have been

in operation at least 19 years, are still in continuous operation and transmit data in near-real-time.

Data are transmitted every hour via GOES, NOAA's suite of Geostationary Operational

Environmental Satellites, to CO-OPS for quality control, analysis and dissemination. In addition to

these near-real-time records, the Program's on-line archives also include historical data from

secondary and tertiary stations, i.e., those with records lengths from 18 years down to only a few

weeks. 
8

Each of these stations requires a primary Data Collection Platform (DCP) with either a selfcalibrating acoustic ranging sensor, a pressure sensor, or a float coupled to a shaft angle encoder.

Ancillary data, such as wind velocity, barometric pressure, air and water temperature, and

conductivity are very often installed as well. Many of the components found in these systems are

dated. Replacements or maintenance service is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, and newer

components recently brought to market need to be evaluated. One of the very first requirements of

OSTEP will be to test and evaluate potential replacements for the existing Next Generation Water

Level Measurement System (NGWLMS) DCPs.

2.3 National PORTSTM Program Requirements

The PORTSTM is a program of the National Ocean Service that supports safe and cost-efficient

navigation by providing ship masters and pilots with accurate real-time information required to avoid

groundings and collisions. PORTSTM includes data acquisition and dissemination systems that

provide real-time observations (six minute updates) of water levels, currents, and other

oceanographic and meteorological data from bays and harbors. Data is delivered to the maritime

user community in a variety of user friendly formats, including telephone voice response and the

Internet. Telephone voice access to accurate real-time water level information allows U.S. port

authorities and maritime shippers to make sound decisions regarding loading of tonnage (based on

available bottom clearance), maximizing loads, and limiting passage times, without compromising

safety. 

The National PORTSTM Program requires measurements tied to accepted standards traceable to NIST

where possible, which provide a high level of accuracy to meet the dual role of maritime commerce

and marine resource management decision support. Individual measurements may be used directly

in decision support or may be part of analysis and model synthesis of additional information. It is

in the area of model synthesis that the most stringent measurement requirements arise. For example,

water level measurements throughout an estuary must be related to the same vertical reference

system to better than 1 centimeter accuracy to meet reasonable (~100 m3/s) transport calculations

using a model. Current measurements must be to an accuracy of a few centimeters/second in order

to accurately compute tidally averaged transports of salt, heat, nutrients, biomass, etc.

At a minimum, the OSTEP must support field reference standards for the following oceanographic

and marine meteorological variables (and derived quantities):

• Current (water transport or volume flow);

• Pressure, temperature and conductivity (salinity and density);

• Water level (tidal height and directional wave spectrum);

• Air temperature and relative humidity 

• Atmospheric visibility,

• Atmospheric pressure, and

• Wind speed and direction,

OSTEP shall provide quality assurance of PORTSTM information for which NOS will accept the

legal liability for its use in navigation safety applications.
9

2.4 National Current Program Requirements

The National Current Program has requirements similar to the National PORTSTM Program except

that the systems are often deployed in a self contained, internally recording mode. The special

requirements for this application include but are not limited to the following:

• Bottom platform must survive intense fishing, anchoring, and storm damage pressures,

• Internal power must be highly reliable,

• Rapid deployment may be required,

• Moorings must be survivable in severe weather, current, fishing, and shipping conditions

and not degrade the measurements, and

• Deployments shall not be dependent on diver deployment or recovery;

2.5 OSTEP Data Management & Network Requirements

There is a critical requirement for a computer based data and information management infrastructure

to support OSTEP. The OSTEP will generate volumes of data as a result of short and long term

testing and validation activities. How well this data and information is managed will ultimately

determine the usefulness of the facility and the overall success of OSTEP. Data, and the information

it brings to the scientist and the engineer must be managed in a way that (1) makes results available

immediately and/or on demand, (2) can be recalled in an efficient manner with little effort; (3) can

be disseminated using a variety of mediums to all legitimate requesters and (4) can be further

processed, quality controlled, analyzed and archived using standard formats and COTS (commercial

off the shelf) software.

To form the foundation of the required data management infrastructure and to subsequently address

these requirements, the following are required components of OSTEP:

• A suite of hardware and software forming the OSTEP database subsystem. This subsystem

will be the repository of any and all data and information generated by but not limited to (1)

instrument test activities, (2) comparison tests; (3) pre-deployment check out, (4) long term

quality assurance testing; (5) computer and telecommunications equipment testing and (6)

vendor bench mark tests.

• The OSTEP database subsystem will require unencumbered access from local users at the

OSTEP as well as from locations throughout the United States. To illustrate the requirement

using a possible OSTEP use scenario, consider a vendor supplied instrument being evaluated

at the OSTEP. Local engineers and computer specialists on site, during the test, will need

immediate access to the results from the field and later in the office. The vendor may want

to monitor these resultsfrom their San Francisco office and be displayed for headquarters in

Silver Spring simultaneously. A network topology that addresses these types of scenarios is

a requirement.

• The OSTEP central acquisition and computing facility will be located at the FOD building

in Chesapeake, Virginia. The on-line and continuous running Data Acquisition System

(DAS), instrument interfaces (radio, land line, network), a separate NT file server, a voice
10

Figure 3

Figure 2

Figure 1

response system, remote voice access computer and associated peripherals will all reside at

FOD.

• Incoming data from one or more instruments, and from one or more sites, will be stored on

the DAS and subsequently forwarded to the file server as flat files.

• The OSTEP data management responsibilities will end at the time the file server database

is populated. Any request for OSTEP historical data or information by local or federal third

parties will be made through the OSTEP data manager. Files will be made available as flat,

PUFFF (PORTSTM Uniformed Flat File Format) files with associated documentation. Any

requests for real or near real time OSTEP data will be taken up by the OSTEP data manager

as well as the OSTEP managers locally on a case by case basis. OSTEP will not take on the

role of interfacing with other data management systems and will not be the primary data

and/or information distributer. OSTEP will make available any and all data to approved

parties in a general purpose format.

• Communications in addition to acquisition will include internet, land line dial-in, FOD LAN

access and voice.

2.6 Field Site Environmental Requirements

The field site selected in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia near the entrance to Chesapeake

Bay is shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) pier which
11

houses sensors and the DCP, and Figure 3 shows the housing, sensor wells and masts

associated with the existing NWLON station.

The following attributes for the field site were desired:

• a wide range of density, wave, current, and water level changes to adequately cover typical

conditions encountered in shallow coastal US estuaries;

• representative of conditions at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay to provide real-time

information for nowcasting and forecasting transports using NOS' CBOFS;

• representative of conditions encountered bymaritime commerce in the Hampton Roads area

to establish a PORTSTM for life cycle test and evaluation as well as a marketing

demonstration;

• simplify field logistics support to maintain a highly reliable and supportable field reference

standard; and

• enable academic study to evaluate the scientific quality of the data sets obtained.

The first requirement is to ensure that comparison of systems under test and evaluation for

deployment at PORTSTM and NWLON sites are exercised over as large a range of variables as

possible. The test site will be instrumented with field reference standards.

There are some requirements may not be satisfied by this site. In that case, additional equipment

which has been tested against the field reference standard should be deployed in the appropriate

locations.

2.7 Test & Evaluation Plan Requirements

The tests conducted at the OSTEP shall be defined in Test & Evaluation Master Plans based on the

capabilities of OSTEP and requirements of the project requiring the tests. A TEMP can be generated

using a computer based tool such as that provided by the SAIC Automated Test Planning System

(http://www.saic.com).

2.8 CO-OPS Information Systems Requirements

The Information Systems Division will use the OSTEF to test and evaluate software and hardware

systems that will eventually be used in operations. These systems may be associated with NWLON,

PORTSTM, or current surveys. OSTEF offers a unique opportunity to run Information Technology

(IT) systems in real time while interfaced with instrumentation in a non-operational mode. Operating

system changes, algorithm modifications, and communication interfaces can all be tested and

accepted prior to installation in the field. The IT test bed systems will be separate from the IT

infrastructure OSTEP will require for acquiring and analyzing test data from sensors undergoing

evaluation.
12
13

3.0 TECHNICAL APPROACH

Data collected for the OSTEP will be obtained from instruments with traceable calibrations. The

Department of Defense specification MIL-STD 45662A describing traceability requires that:

1. Measuring and test equipment shall be calibrated utilizing reference standards whose

calibration is certified as traceable to the NIST, has been derived from acceptable values

of the natural physical constants, or has been derived by the ratio type of self-calibration

techniques. Reference standards used in the calibration shall be supported by certificates,

reports, or data sheets attesting to the date, accuracy, and conditions under which the

results furnished were obtained.

2. Traceability is to relate individual measurement results to national standards or nationally

accepted measurement systems through an unbroken chain of comparisons [3].

3. The ability to relate individual measurement results through an unbroken chain of

calibrations to one or more of the following: (a) U.S. National Standards maintained by the

NIST and the U.S. Naval Observatory; (b) fundamental or natural physical constants with

values assigned or accepted by the U.S. NIST; (c) national standards of other countries

which are correlated with U.S. national standards; (d) ratio type of calibrations; and (e)

comparison to consensus standards.

OSTEP sensors shall be traceable in two ways - (a) traceable to NIST standards, and (b) traceable

to consensus standards.

3.1 ISO 25 Accreditation Process

The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program requirements are documented in

"Procedures and General Requirements" of the NVLAP by James L. Cigler and Vanda R.. White,

May 1994 (NIST Handbook 150).

NVLAP programs are established:

• for public and private calibration and testing laboratories, manufacturer's in-house

laboratories, university laboratories, and federal, state, and local government laboratories,

• to meet legal requirements, regulations or codes, and contract specifications, or to be

recognized as demonstrably competent to meet the needs of its clients; and 

• as the basis for guidance to facilitate agreements on mutual recognition of accreditation of

laboratories between NVLAP and other accreditation organizations.

NVLAP accreditation is:

• based on evaluation of the facility's technical qualifications and competence for conducting

specific test methods, measurements and services in specific fields of calibration or testing;
14

• granted only after thorough evaluation that the applicant has demonstrated that all NVLAP

criteria have been met;

• acknowledged by the issuance oftwo documentsto attest to that compliance: (1) a Certificate

of Accreditation, and (2) a Scope of Accreditation which details the specific test methods,

measurements and services for which a laboratory has been accredited.

A request to establish a Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP) must be made to the Director of

NIST and include:

• the scope of the LAP in terms of products, calibration services, or testing services proposed

for inclusion;

• specific identification of the applicable standards and test methods, including appropriate

designations, and the organizations or standards-writing bodies having responsibility for

them;

• a statement of the perceived need for the LAP;

• a statement of the extent to which the requester is willing to support necessary developmental

aspects of the LAP with funding and personnel.

3.2 Facility Organization & Staff Competencies

3.3 Test & Evaluation Process and Planing

The tests conducted at the OSTEP shall be defined in Test & Evaluation Master Plans based on the

capabilities of OSTEP and requirements of the project requiring the tests. A TEMP can be generated

using a computer based tool such as that provided by the SAIC Automated Test Planning System

(http://www.saic.com).

A typical Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) is outlined below with the prefix TEMP to

distinguish between outline sections and OSTEP plan sections:

TEMP 1. Introduction

TEMP 1.1 Goals & Objectives

TEMP 1.2 Risk Assessment

TEMP 1.3 Minimum Acceptable Operational Performance Requirements

TEMP 1.4 Systems Under T&E Description

TEMP 1.5 Critical Technical Parameters

TEMP 2. Integrated Test Program Summary

TEMP 2.1 Master Schedule

TEMP 2.2 Management

TEMP 3. Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E)

TEMP 3.1 Overview

TEMP 3.2 Configuration Description
15

TEMP 3.3 DT&E Objectives

TEMP 3.4 DT&E Events, Scope of Testing, and Scenarios

TEMP 4. Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E)

TEMP 4. 1 Overview

TEMP 4.2 Critical Operational Issues

TEMP 4.3 Configuration Description

TEMP 4.4 OT&E Events, Scope of Testing, and Scenarios

TEMP 4.5 Live Evaluation by Users

TEMP 5. T&E Resource Summary

TEMP 5.1 Test Articles

TEMP 5.2 Test Sites & Instrumentation

TEMP 5.3 Test Support Equipment

TEMP 5.4 Risks

TEMP 5. External Contributors

TEMP 5.6 Operational Test Support

TEMP 5.7 Simulations, Models and Testbeds

TEMP 5.8 Special Requirements

TEMP 5.9 T&E Funding Requirements

TEMP 5.10 Manpower/Personnel Training

TEMP Appendix A Bibliography

TEMP Appendix B ACRONYMS

TEMP Appendix C Points of Contact

TEMP Attachments

3.4 Software Quality Assurance Process

All OSTEP data, analysis and results will pass through the software systems in place at the facility.

To ensure these software subsystems adhere to applicable standards, procedures, and requirements,

a software quality assurance process is required.

The Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania has

developed a framework that describes the key elements of an effective software process. Among

other things, this framework addresses the software quality assurance process. This process, called

the Capability Maturity Model for Software (CMM) provides a clearly defined, evolutionary and

disciplined path for software developers to follow. CMM is used throughout the industry and is

recognized as an accepted and proven model to adopt when defining the software process. 

3.5 Total Quality Assurance Process

The DQA plan for a marine measurement program specifies the Total Quality Assurance Process for

the data collection and processing systems, personnel, and facilities are to be used to obtain the data

to meet the program objectives. The plan includes an uncertainty statement about the data to be

collected and details the procedures to be used to achieve the allowable error objective of the

measurement program. Procedures to be considered in developing the plan are related both to the

planning and operations portions of the measurement program.
16

3.5.1 General Considerations

The DQA plan should:

• Parallel the course of events in the measurement program. The measurement program plan

should provide the sequence of events. For many programs, the DQA and measurement

program plans can be merged into a single document.

• Serve as a management tool for control of the measurement program. Thus, the program

management must review the DQA plan.

• Identify existing organizational procedures appropriate for the program. (The use of existing

procedures decreases the need to commit unnecessary resources, and organizational

personnel involved in the DQA plan will most likely be familiar with them.)
17

Figure 4

 Program M anager

4.0 FACILITY MANAGEMENT

4.1 Facility Management Organization 

The relationship of OSTEP within CO-OPS is shown in the organization chart in Figure 4.

4.2 Facilities Description

The creation of the OSTEP Facility (OSTEF) at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel is the largest

initial OSTEP expenditure It is required to advance the state of sensors and systems used by COOPS, to demonstrate a continuously developing expertise in the acquisition of oceanographic and

meteorological data, and to provide a quantitative selection method for PORTSTM and NWLON

sensors which balances sensor accuracy, performance, and cost.

The OSTEF is planned to be a field reference test site, primarily for new or existing sensors used in

CO-OPS programs. Existing sensors will be inter-compared with each other for observational

differences, for failure modes and their remedies, and for effects of manufacturer hardware and

software modifications. New sensors will be compared to existing sensors in a non-operational

setting, in co-operation with manufacturers and users. It is anticipated that the facility will also be
18

valued and utilized by other NOAA elements (NWS, NDBC, and NOAA’s Environmental Research

Laboratories), NOS cooperative institutes (NOS/ODU CICPO, NOS/University of New Hampshire

Joint Hydrographic Center) and other federal, state, and educational organizations. Cost

reimbursement will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

The six parameters presently observed within PORTSTM and NWLON will be observed at the

OSTEF. These parameters, and the methods available to sense them, include: 

 

• water levels (acoustic, pressure, float & shaft angle encoder, laser, and microwave)

• currents (acoustic doppler profilers)

• wind speed and direction (rotor)

• barometric pressure

• water and air temperature (thermistor)

• conductivity (inductive toroid)

Sensors proposed for PORTSTM and NWLON to be studied at OSTEF are: 

• bridge air gap (GPS, microwave, laser)

• atmospheric visibility (light scattering, intelligent digital CCD camera)

• side-looking ADCPs

• water quality parameters including oxygen, turbidity, and fluorometry for chlorophyll and

harmful algal blooms)

• surface current mappers (CODAR, marine radar)

Additional systems to be evaluated include: 

• communications (phone, fixed frequencyand spread spectrum VHF radio modems, underwater

acoustic modems) 

• DCPs (Sutron, Vitel and others as follow-ons to the NGWLMS DCPs)

Full duplicate, but not identical, sensors are proposed at the OSTEF. Observation of the same

parameter by dissimilar sensors provides a robust standard against which other devices may be

compared, and at the same time permits a comparison of the two primary sensors. For example,

PORTSTM makes use of both RDI and Sontek ADCPs. These devices have similar performance

specifications but there are some rather significant manufacturing differences, including: a) a Sontek

three transducer configuration while RDI has four, b) acoustic data processing (RDI broadband vs.

Sontek narrowband), c) Sontek transducers individually replaceable vs. RDI monolithic assembly,

etc.. It is reported (Roerbaek, 1999) that the Sontek is able to obtain a current profile which reaches

closer to the surface while the RDI profile is more precise. Both an RDI and a Sontek ADCP will

be towed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center/Carderock Division.tow tank, providing a calibration

traceable to NIST, and then installed at the OSTEF as primary sensors. These observations will

provide a valuable field reference for side-looking ADCPs, CODAR, and other water velocity

sensors while permitting a side by side comparison of the RDI and Sontek devices.
19

For budget and planning purposes, the OSTEF has been considered as simply another PORTSTM

installation, and the budget template for PORTSTM FY 2001 has been used. Just as proposed for

new PORTSTM, contractor support will be required at the OSTEF. CO-OPS/FOD in Chesapeake

lacks the personnel resources to fully support the OSTEF (demonstrated by the $1M NWLON

maintenance backlog also proposed for FY 2001 funding). The $150K contractor cost applied to the

other sites may appear high for this small “OSTEF PORTSTM”. It is justified by the requirement for

more frequent deployments and recoveries, the wider variety of instruments, and the need to

maintain a functional status required for external (paying) users. For these same reasons, the

requirement for the purchase of a full suite of spare components is proposed for the OSTEF. It is

anticipated that the contractor support will be commingled with the CO-OPS support. It is desirable

to provide CO-OPS personnel the opportunity to work with the newest technology whenever

possible, and to utilize the contractor support for the standard maintenance efforts.

Since OSTEF sensors will be replaced or re-configured more frequently than those in a standard

PORTSTM installation, the use of OSTEF sensors for operational purposes must be approached with

caution. However, to enhance the benefits of CO-OPS’s OSTEP effort and to support the cooperative nature of the facility, it is vital that resultant data sets be readily available. It is proposed

that a separate and unique DAS be installed for OSTEF, and that OSTEF data be archived within the

National PORTSTM Database and accessible through the PORTSTM InfoHub, perhaps in a time

delayed mode. The proposed budget allows for these costs, which total almost 20% of the proposed

OSTEF total. CORMS QC shall only be required for those sensors which will provide real-time

data.

4.3 Test Equipment

4.3.1 Field Oceanographic Reference Systems

The field oceanographic reference systems must be recognized at the finest available field

oceanographic and marine meteorological systems for the measurement of temperature, conductivity,

pressure, water velocity, water level (tidal and waves), wind velocity, air temperature, relative

humidity, and atmospheric pressure. It is recommended that vendors of systems be notified of NOS'

intent to select reference systems of the highest accuracy and reliability and to calibrate them to an

accredited NIST standards transfer process. Vendors should be encouraged to compete for the

selection of reference standard.

SeaBird Electronics supplies conductivity, temperature, and pressure (Parascientific) sensors of a

very high quality. The choice of conductivity, temperature, and pressure sensors must meet the

UNESCO standards for the determination of salinity and density of seawater using electrical

conductivity.

Acoustic Doppler current profilers developed by RDI Inc and SonTek have been calibrated in the

laminar tow basin and used in PORTSTM applications. SonTek has to date provided the instruments

with the lowest error especially near the surface in bottom mounted applications. SonTek supplies

Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters which can be accurately calibrated in the laboratory against Laser

Doppler Velocimeters (Voulgaris, 1997).
20

The determination of water level requires reference sensors which can provide both long term

accuracy relative to a vertical Geodetic reference system as well as high sampling rate to determine

directional wave characteristics. A trade study should be conducted with input from the Advisory

Panel to select the proper water level reference system(s).

Marine meteorological measurements should be conducted using equipment calibrated by the

National Weather Service for the purpose.

4.4 Staff Position Descriptions

4.4.1 Technical Manager

The Technical manager must have an advanced degree in Physical Oceanography, Engineering Fluid

Dynamics, or Physics with a strong emphasis on theoretical and experimental geophysical fluid

dynamics.

4.4.2 Quality Assurance Manager

The QualityAssurance Manager must have a degree in Logistics Engineering, Systems Engineering,

or Quality Assurance Engineering with training and experience in Total Quality Management.

4.4.3 Facility Operations Manager

The Facility Operations Manager must have a degree in Business Administration and experience

with facility operations.

4.4.4 T&E Staff

The Test and Evaluation Staff should consist of an Electrical Engineer and a Mechanical

Engineering with experience with ocean sensing and data acquisition systems.

4.4.5 IT Staff

OSTEP requires sufficient personnel to perform the following functions: 

• Network Management

• Database Management

• System Administration

• Software development and integration

It is assumed that any hardware support personnel would be acquired through a contract.

It is a requirement for the IRM staff to have the necessary education, training, technical knowledge

and experience to provide the necessary support for their assigned functions. In general, the

following minimum selection criteria will be used:

• College or University Trained - Bachelors Degree

• A Computer Science or related major
21

• Sufficient experience to perform the functions - minimally 4-5 years of practical experience

Depending upon the selection pool, some functions could be combined. An on-going training

program will be required and sufficient backups put in place.

4.5 Financial Management

The OSTEP shall be financially serviced through the Eastern Administrative Service Center in

Norfolk, with oversight provided by CO-OPS management.

4.6 Advisory Board

The Advisory Board should be comprised of representatives from the following:

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MIT

• Rosenstiel Institute of Oceanography, University of Miami

• Department of Oceanography, University of Washington

• Scripps Oceanographic Institution, University of California San Diego

• NOAA's PMEL and AOML

• NESDIS/National Oceanographic Data Center

• Instrument Manufacturing Community Representatives

• Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University

• Maritime Commerce representative(s)

• Marine Resouce community representative(s)
22
23

5.0 REFERENCES

Garner, Ernest L., and S. D. Raspberry, “What’s new in Traceability”, Journal of Testing and

Evaluation, JTEVA, Vol 21, No. 6 November 1993, pp. 505-509.

Cigler, James L., and V. R. White, “National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program,

Procedures and General Requirements”, NIST Handbook 150, 1994

Roerbaek, K., “Intercomparison between Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers”, Proceedings of the

IEEE Sixth Working Conference on Current Measurement, March 11-13, 1999, pp. 198-203.

Voulgaris, G. and J. Trowbridge, WHOI, 1997. “Evaluation of the ADV for Turbulence

Measurements” submitted to Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology.

“Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Observing Practices”, Fourth edition, WMO - No. 8

TP. 3, 1971. Secretariat of the World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
24
25

APPENDICES
26
27

Appendix I

Schedule

The schedule for the establishment of the OSTEP must be event based. The establishment of the

OSTEP capabilities to underwrite legal liability is more important than meeting arbitrary milestones.

The major constraints on the schedule for events are the following:

• Funding

• Availability of Full Time Equivalents to hire personnel 

• Availability of Division management personnel 

• Availability of partner personnel

The schedule must be revised when a work breakdown structure for the Facility establishment is

completed.

Year 1 

- acquire local contractor services

- acquire and install duplicate OSTEF sensors

- implement OSTEF

- begin acquisition of CO-OPS new sensors to be tested

- begin pursuit of NIST certification

Year 2 

- begin installation and testing of CO-OPS new sensors

- begin OSTEP database development

- obtain NIST certification

- begin partner & gov agency new sensor test discussions

Year 3 

- implement and populate new sensor database

- accept partner & gov agency new sensor test

- begin private sector sensor test discussions
28
29

Appendix II

New Sensors

A variety of new sensors are desired and/or poised for inclusion in the suite of PORTSTM

instruments. Plans for new programs such as Coastal GOOS call for additional sensed parameters,

and both PORTSTM and NWLON are well positioned to serve as the “backbone” for these programs.

With the ability to integrate new sensors quickly (either as approved PORTSTM devices or ancillary

observations for distribution on the CO-OPS InfoHub), CO-OPS will maintain a leadership role in

these new programs.

Several commercially available sensors have made significant progress in transitioning from research

instruments to operational devices. They are briefly described here.

Side-looking Doppler Profilers

A SonTek side-looking ADP has been installed and appears to be operating well at Shinnecock Inlet

NY (for examples of the side-looking ADP data available in real time see the web site

http://www.LIShore.org/shinnecock/latest.htm.). Cost to procure and install a SonTek SL ADP is

estimated at $40K. RDI has a two year $400K Phase 2 SBIR to develop a side-looking profiler, but

also offers a 600KHz device recently developed for a Japanese firm, available for approximately

$30K.

Current Mapping Using Radar

Radar devices for the observation of surface currents have the potential to greatly enhance the COOPS current analysis effort. Such instruments have applications in a PORTSTM and the routine

mapping of tidal currents. They are also ideal for event-driven current mapping activites such as

hazardous materials spills and search and recovery efforts. CODAR installations in Monterey Bay,

Rutgers LEO-15, Texas, and San Francisco have demonstrated an operational status and impressive

data value from these devices. 

NOAA’s ETL Remote Sensing Laboratory owns two CODAR systems and is tasked with technology

transfer to an operation environment. They have expressed interest in a cooperative demonstration.

The cost to procure and install a CODAR system is estimated to be $250K, and CO-OPS received

funding in FY 2000 to procure and manage the operation of a system in the Gulf of Fonseca. The

Navy’s NRL plans to evaluate a HIFAR system built by MetraTek (http://www.metratek.net), and

they have expressed interest in partnering. They also have interest in further development of a fine

scale current mapping system using standard low-cost marine microwave radar units.

Of the three systems (CODAR, HIFAR, and standard low-cost marine microwave radar), CODAR

is the only commercially available unit. The CODAR system is compact, portable, and has the

ability to be quickly installed for “quick response” efforts.

Offshore Water Level Measurements Using GPS

Precise centimeter level offshore water level measurements related to a recoverable reference

framework (ellipsoid) can be obtained from a GPS system placed on a floating platform (buoy,
30

barge, boat, etc.). These GPS-derived water level time series are used to compute tidal datums and

harmonic constituents to support hydrographic surveys, maintenance dredging projects, verification

of numerical models, calibration of satellite altimeters, and mapping sea surface variability. 

Most of the hardware required for this test is in hand or has been identified. A radio modem

communications system is needed, costing about $10K.

Underwater Acoustic Modems for ADCPs

Acoustic modems for the underwater transfer of ADCP data can eliminate the cost and failures

associated with cabling. A new modem developed by LinkQuest (http://www.link-quest.com) offers

low power consumption, low error rates and high data transfer rates. It has successfully been

interfaced to off-the-shelfADCPs. The cost to procure a pair of modems for testing is approximately

$12.4K. The manufacturer offers demonstrations at little or no cost in the southern California area.

Benthos also offers a recently developed acoustic modem and has expressed a willingness to

participate in trial deployments. 

Bridge Air Gap

Air gap sensors are available off the shelf from Saab and Miros (a microwave sensor with wave

observation capability, see http://www.miros.no) . They have also recently been developed by

Lockheed (a laser sensor developed through a CRADA) and Technology Services Corporation (a

microwave sensor developed through a SBIR). The TSCsensor was developed in support of a Phase

1 SBIR, which does not require prototype development so the device is not NOAA property. One

or more of these devices should be evaluated for inclusion in PORTSTM. The most comprehensive

test would involve the comparison of several sensors.

RDI ADCP Wave Sensor

RDI has recently released software which provides observations of wave period, amplitude and

direction from a standard ADCP. This results in a wave sensor that is probably more robust than

most existing wave gauges (since the instrument doesn’t reside on the ocean’s surface) while

providing current profiles. Existing and potential PORTSTM customers have requested wave

observations. Tests to examine this new software and compare the resulting data to existing

accepted wave sensor data should be conducted.
31

Appendix III

OSTEP Budget

The primary OSTEP facility has been identified as a rectangular area with a SE corner located at 36

56.5N 076 04.8 and a NW corner at 36 59.8N 076 09.0. The rectangle is very nearly centered about

the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel crossing the Thimble Shoal Channel.

An existing NWLON and PORTSTM station is alreadyin place on the South Island of the Chesapeake

Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT). A suite of dual sensors at this location will be installed and operated

just as planned for all other new PORTSTM installations. The redundant sensors will; 1) serve as a

reference for the evaluation of new instruments, 2) serve as a test bed for long term stability and

reliability of the existing sensors used for PORTSTM, 3) permit the removal of individual sensors for

frequent calibration while maintaining an operational test facility, 4) ensure continuation in the event

of instrument failure. 

This PORTSTM reference facility will contain two water level gauges, two CT sensors, two

anemometers, two barometers, two visibility sensors, and two DAS and radio communications

systems. Comparison of similar sensors from different manufacturers will be conducted within this

redundant sensor umbrella while serving as references for new instruments. For example, data from

the inter-comparison of a 1200 KHz RDI and a 1500 Khz Sontek upward-looking current profiler

(as redundant sensors) will serve as ground truth for side-looking doppler profilers and radar current

mappers. 

The cost to install and operate such a system is about $540K, as detailed in the attached Excel spread

sheet. The same contractual assistance planned for other PORTSTM installations will be used for the

installation and operation of the OSTEP facility, and will be expanded as necessary (and resources

allow) to assist in additional OSTEP activities.

The cost of creating and operating an OSTEP varies with the extent to which devices are tested, and

the desire of manufacturers to cooperate in the tests for promotion of their products. For example,

LinkQuest will provide a pair of acoustic modems at no cost for a short trial period, but the ability

of the device to operate for six months with an acceptable power draw, no corrosion, etc. would not

be determined by the short demonstration test.

As with any program, there will be insufficient funds for a full realization of the program.

Expectations and funding levels will be matched by seeking external cooperation where possible and

reducing the extent of tests.

Project Cost

OSTEP Field Reference Facility $540K

Evaluate Belfort & Cossonay visibility sensors $20K
Project Cost

32

HF Radar $30K

Compare SonTek & RDI side-looking current meters $70K

Evaluate air gap sensors $35K

Evaluate LinkQuest and Benthos acoustic modems $30K

Offshore water level using GPS $15K

RDI ADCP wave sensor evaluation $25K

OSTEP Hardware/Software/Computers/Communications $35K

Total $800K
33

OSTEF- (FY 2001 Price List) 11/8/2000

Hardware 

Costs

Installation

Costs

Annual O & M

Costs

CBBT - Existing Water Level & M et Station

 Water Level M easurement System $6,250

 Meteorological Sensors (WS/WD/AT/BARO) $500

 Current Measurem ent System (ADCP) $40,000 $13,000 $12,000 ADCP Cable Length (m) 

 ADCP Cable Length (m ) 1000 $8,000 1000

 Conductivity Sensor $1,000

 Visibility $8,000 $1,000 $1,000

 LOS Radio Telemetry System $2,000 $200 $200

CBBT - Redundant sensor suite at CBBT

 Water Level M easurement System $17,500 $10,250 $6,250

 Meteorological Sensors (WS/WD/AT/BARO) $3,700 $1,000 $500

 Current Measurem ent System (ADCP) $40,000 $13,000 $12,000 ADCP Cable Length (m) 

 ADCP Cable Length (m ) 1000 $8,000 1000

 Conductivity Sensor $2,800 $2,000 $1,000

 Visibility $8,000 $1,000 $1,000

 LOS Radio Telemetry System $2,000 $200 $200

PORTS Data Acquisition System

 Data Acquisition and Dissem ination System $33,000

 Voice Data Response System $15,000 $2,200

 Stand Alone PICS $15,000 $1,200

 Installation/M aintenance/Com m unications costs $6,500 $8,150

PORTS Data Telemetry Systems

 Base Station Radio Installation $4,000 $3,000 $6,500

PORTS Local Operations $115,250

Spare Sensor Hardware

 Water Level M easurement System $17,500

 Meteorological Sensors (WS/WD/AT/BARO) $3,700

 Conductivity Sensor $2,800

 Current Measurem ent System (ADCP) $40,000 ADCP Cable Length (m) 

 ADCP Cable Length (m ) 1000 $8,000 1000

 LOS Radio Telemetry System $2,000

 Base Station System $4,000

PORTS Annual Capital Reserve (10% of Hardware Costs) $28,500

TOTAL ESTIM ATED COSTS $285,000 $51,150 $203,700

TOTAL COST - INSTALLATION AND O&M FOR 1 YEAR $539,850