Ocean Dashboard: Examples of Affordable Ocean Monitoring Using Small, Satellite Reporting Smart Sensors

OneNOAA Science Seminar Series

POC: NOAA Central Library, library.seminars@noaa.gov, and Tiffany House, tiffany.house@noaa.gov

Register for the webinar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6702188984701896976

Speaker: Marco Flagg, Desert Star Systems LLC, CEO

Abstract: Ocean Dashboard is Desert Star’s vision for comprehensive near real-time ocean monitoring using small (generally less than 500g), long-endurance autonomous satellite reporting sensors that can be deployed in large enough numbers to significantly improve sampling density. This presentation provides examples including an Atlantic traversing tag originally monitoring a tiger shark that subsequently ‘discovered’ methane seeps; new tags that can detect the time and location of fish spawning; and opportunities for autonomous acoustic monitoring including potentially tracking the ocean migration of endangered cetaceans beyond the reach of static monitors. 

Key Takeaways: 
1. Small, autonomous satellite reporting smart sensors offer extensive capabilities for physical and biological ocean observations.
2. Small size, ease of deployment and endurance supports high sampling densities that would otherwise be cost prohibitive.
3. The growing use of such sensors, can give us a near real-time window into fish and cetacean migration, human activities and physical processes alike, combining to form an ocean dashboard that improves our understanding.

About the Speaker:  Recognizing the vicious cycle of high cost leading to limited availability of ocean sensors, Marco Flagg defined a strategy of modular design that produces efficiencies of scale across an ever-growing portfolio. Marco combines out-of-the-box engineering thought with a passion for ocean exploration that has led him to journeys of the deep ocean gaining a new understanding of the particular environment and the needs of researchers, and translating that knowledge into new products and concepts. 

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(Marco Flagg, Desert Star Systems LLC, CEO)