SmartBay Ireland has recently entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with OBSEA Seafloor Cabled Observatory operated by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Spain), Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands PLOCAN, Marine Institute Ireland and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).
The partners will work to increase collaboration, develop best practice procedures and the sharing of knowledge and innovative ideas.
Collaboration under this agreement will involve research co-operation between cabled subsea observatories and test sites for the trial and validation of novel sensors and prototype wave energy converters.
The MOU includes actions promoting developing a common knowledge base regarding operations, maintenance, monitoring, data management, data standards and best practices as well as the development of joint R&D projects.
Exchange of personnel will also form a key part of the agreement facilitating an exchange of skills and experience across projects.
General Manager of SmartBay Ireland John Breslin said, “This agreement provides SmartBay with the opportunity to work with other European test site operators to: share information and experiences; develop common standards and procedures; and to pursue opportunities for mutual benefit. We hope that in time other test site operators will participate in this collaboration.”
Principal Investigator of Obsea Cabled Seafloor Observatory Dr. Joaquin del Rio said, “For UPC as the University who designed and built OBSEA it is very important to exchange our experience with other seafloor observatory operators. The will facilitate the development of common deployment and data management procedures between observatories and the easiest way to exchange instrumentation and gain knowledge from the data generated. This standardisation of procedures will facilitate the work between scientists and industry clients.”
Press Release, July 18, 2014; Image: SmartBay Ireland