Connecting a Smart Ocean

SFI Smart Ocean is an innovation centre hosted by the University of Bergen. It works to create a "wireless, smart and energy-efficient" sensor network that can be used throughout the ocean. This network will collect and relay data, which will contribute to the "sustainable management of ocean resources, industrial equipment and associated structures". With partial funding coming from the Research Council of Norway, the centre brings together partners from both science and industry.

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"It’s important to exploit the resources that we actually need, but in a sustainable way," said Marie Holstad, SFI Smart Ocean Deputy Centre Director. "To do this, we need more informed decision-making capabilities and good-quality data to properly understand the ocean and its resources. That way we can learn more about man-made structures and how they influence and interact with the ocean, ensuring that the ocean industries can operate as sustainably as possible".

Bergen-based benefits

With the centre requiring input from both industrial and scientific partners, a presence in Bergen has had its advantages. According to Holstad, "it’s a good place to be located in when it comes to available competence in the ocean industries".

"The region has a vast network of companies that are highly experienced in delivering technology for the ocean industries. Having such companies onboard not only gives us access to their competence and technologies, but they also know the end-users well", explained Holstad.

"At the same time, it has also allowed us to access key research facilities, like the IMR’s (Institute of Marine Research) research station and test facilities," she added.

Components of a Smart Ocean

SFI Smart Ocean’s overall system is a combination of amphibious hardware, wireless communication and cutting-edge software and middleware.

The key components of this system are:

• Autonomous battery-powered sensors capable of collecting, partially processing, and transmitting data from sensors in the ocean
• A wireless network connecting and coordinating all these sensors to enable flexibility and multi-direction communication
• A software platform for storing, processing, and analysing all the accumulated data.

"It’s quite complex, which is why we have so many partners and stakeholders working together and contributing their competencies," summarised Holstad.

Serving the ocean industries

With many key marine industries moving further into the ocean realm, the need for environmental oversight will grow. It is this need that SFI Smart Ocean hopes to meet. Through this, they intend to positively impact key ocean industries, such as the petroleum, aquaculture and emerging offshore wind sectors. Additionally, this system could contribute to underwater drone projects and harbour monitoring endeavours.

"I believe this will be valuable to a number of ocean industries in the future" explained Holstad.

Beyond research and industry, data from this system can also contribute to weather forecasting and climate and ocean pattern modelling.

"Better models mean better forecasts, allowing for the ocean industries to optimise their operations. This can also allow us to exploit renewable energy in better ways and help predict how emissions will spread. That way, we can optimise cleanup efforts." according to Holstad.

Competence building

While SFI Smart Ocean is intended to serve various industry needs, it will also contribute to knowledge-building and cultivating the next generation of ocean competence.

In addition to the dedicated staff, the centre includes a number of PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers from both the University of Bergen and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. The centre is also working to educate bachelor’s and master’s students in related fields.

A key step has been connecting prospective students working on relevant projects with the centre’s industry partners. This will ultimately serve dual purposes, providing the students with the opportunity to gain key competencies while also providing these industry partners with prospective candidates for future employment.

"The centre is focused on both research for knowledge building and innovation for industry development," explained Holstad. "Balance is the key".

Moving forward

The centre will look to grow and expand in the coming years. A key focus for this expansion will include collaboration with other projects and establishing additional ones as well. Some of these projects will include additional sensors for monitoring the environment, infrastructure and processes, as well as the integration of underwater drones.

The centre also plans to hold and coordinate workshops in Bergen and Agder. In collaboration with clusters GCE Ocean Technology and GCE NODE, and SFI Offshore Mechatronics, these workshops will brainstorm new innovation and research activities in the two regions. In Bergen, they will draw heavily on the combined expertise of industry partners and members from both SFI Smart Ocean and GCE Ocean Technology respectively.

The biggest ambition for the centre moving forward will be to gain new partners to serve as end-users. By doing so, they intend to create more value and maximise the potential of SFI Smart Ocean for both industry and research.

"Overall, we’re working on expanding in different directions," concluded Holstad.  

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