SCOOP - NDBC´s new ocean observing system

The National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) is a world leader in providing high quality ocean observations. The first coastal weather buoy systems, developed over four decades ago, were enormous (10 and 12-meter discus type) due to large power systems and electronics racks. NDBC´s data collection payloads have historically provided the standard measurements of wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, air temperature, relative humidity, sea surface temperature and directional waves. Data has typically been collected and reported using a centralized, single processor architecture and transmitted via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration´s (NOAA) Geostationary Orbiting Environmental Satellite (GOES) on an hourly basis using a non-standard message format. In more recent years, electronics and power systems have reduced in size allowing the use of smaller hulls (3-meter discus) and moorings. However, even these smaller observing systems remain complex, labor intensive, prone to human error, with require disassembly prior to shipment and service and support from vessels with large cranes for deployment and service required. The NDBC is currently developing a next generation system named the Self-Contained Ocean Observing Payload (SCOOP). SCOOP takes advantage of the latest in technology utilizing a modular approach that can be constructed, assembled and installed on a variety of moored and fixed platforms, including a new smaller moored buoy easily deployed and serviced by a less costly vessel. SCOOP is expected to provide the same high quality data but be significantly smaller, less expensive to produce and maintain, and more reliable. In addition, the system will provide ocean temperature profiles and camera images. This paper describes the design of SCOOP, a design based on a distributed multi-processor architecture utilizing NDBC´s Smart Module (SM) technology. Data messages are formatted using Extensible Markup Language (XML), an accepted industry standard, with processed data messages transmitted exclusively via Iridium allowing for more frequent transmissions; thus, decreasing the data latency, as well as the transmission retry capability. SCOOP modularity allows for additional auxiliary devices in the architecture for new or third-party sensors to be integrated easily into the system. This will provide additional expansion of ocean observation capability. The power system consists of a small lightweight Lithium-Ion Smart Battery/Charging system that allows for easier replacement, health monitoring, and remote power management. The overall system is lightweight and self-contained making it easier to replace in the field and eliminating the need for piecemeal repair. Buoy cameras (BuoyCAM) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) have been integrated into the design of SCOOP. The BuoyCAM not only provides critical situational awareness data for counter-vandalism, but may also lead to additional observational capability, such as fog, cloud cover, surface currents and sea state. The presentation will also present performance data obtained during three prototype deployments in the Gulf of Mexico. The performance data will be used to determine if additional design modifications are necessary prior to designating it as an operational system. A total of twenty systems have been built, tested and are now being selectively deployed in NDBC´s weather buoy program. The 3-meter buoy has been NDBC´s weather observing workhorse for the past three decades. During this period, technology improvements have been incremental. SCOOP is a revolutionary improvement in ocean observations and will dramatically affect all future areas of NDBC: production, testing, logistics, operations and shore-side processing of the data.