Canadian Ocean Data System- an Early Review
Authors: Smith Graham A.J. 
Published: October 2008

The purpose of the Canadian Ocean Data System (C.O.D.S.) program is to develop a system of ocean data acquisition buoys suited to Canadian requirements. There are three main work elements: assessment of data users needs (including weather forecasting, shipping, fisheries, and mineral exploration), engineering studies of the technology, and field trails of several buoy types including large spar and discus buoys and "medium" buoys of modular design.

INTRODUCTION

All the essential data, with the possible exception of visibility, can be gathered reliably by unmanned data buoy systems. While other means of data acquisition (such as satellites, radar, and aircraft) also have a necessary part to play, the role of data buoys as part of the total data acquisition scheme is recognized.

The need for a broad assessment of data buoy technology, and its application to Canadian requirements, has led to the award of a development contract entitled CODS (Canadian Ocean Data System).

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The CODS program is required to develop an operational system for the acquisition, processing, and distribution of ocean data. The information to be gathered includes oceanographic meteorological, and limnological measurements.

To achieve this aim, a three-phased, multiyear program has been embraced. The initial phase is now underway at Hermes Electronics Limited in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

The second main task is to carry out engineering studies of the state-of-the-art of buoy technology and related technologies.

The third work element is to conduct field trials of various buoy systems in the Atlantic ocean off Nova Scotia.

The engineering studies, reinforced and qualified by the field trials, will then culminate in the specifications of the data buoy systems required according to the survey of data user needs. Ongoing phases of the work will essentially consist of iterations of this sequence.

THE ENGINEERING STUDIES

The main engineering effort has been broken into work areas corresponding to the basic buoy subsystems of hulls and moorings, communications, data' processing, power, sensors, and logistics or support requirements. In each of these areas, tasks have been identified consisting of surveys, trade-off studies, experimental development programs, and other specific items.

There are various systems analyses underway, consisting of analytical modeling of cost effectiveness, performance evaluation, producibility, reliability and maintainability. These are applied at both the subsystem and system levels. In addition, mathematical modeling of the dynamic response of buoy and mooring systems in the ocean environment is being generalized and improved.

It is here that the COOS program presents a Really valuable opportunity, for the test buoys are instrumented not only with environmental,, sensors but also with devices to measure motions and loads of the platforms. This will permit various data quality assessments to be made such as the dependence of sensor accuracies on hull motions. For additional, checks a wave rider buoy is moored near the test buoys, which also lie in the vicinity of a large stable platform of known characteristics and equipped with similar sensors to those on tile buoys.