A design proposal of real-time monitoring stations: implementation and performance in contrasting environmental conditions

Abstract

SUMMARY: With the aim of creating a real-time monitoring network for both oceanographic and meteorological data, a monitoring station conceptual design was developed. A common framework for software and electronics was adapted to different environmental conditions using two buoy approaches: one intended for oceanic waters, to be moored up to 30-40 m depth, where waves are the critical design factor, and one for continental waters (rivers, lakes and the inner part of estuaries), where currents are the critical design factor. When structures such as bridges are present in the area, the monitoring station can be installed on these structures, thus reducing its impact and increasing safety. In this paper, the design, implementation, operation and performance of these stations are described. A reliability index is calculated for the longest time series of the three related deployment options on the Galician coast: Cíes (oceanic buoy in front of the Ría de Vigo), Catoira (continental buoy in the Ulla river) and Cortegada (installation in a bed in the Ría de Arousa).Keywords: buoy, mooring systems, real-time data, telemetry, reliability, Galicia, environmental sensor network. RESUMEN: ProPuesta de un diseño de estación de monitorización en tiemPo real: imPlementación y rendimiento en diferentes condiciones ambientales. -Con el fin de crear una red de monitorización en tiempo real de variables tanto oceanográficas como meteorológicas, se ha desarrollado el diseño conceptual de una estación de monitorización. Este diseño común de electrónica y programación se ha adaptado a las diferentes condiciones ambientales del medio empleando dos tipos diferentes de boya: uno para aguas oceánicas, que puede ser fondeado hasta 30-40 m de profundidad, donde el oleaje es el factor crítico a tener en cuenta para su diseño, y otro para aguas continentales (ríos, lagos o incluso para la parte interior de estuarios), donde las corrientes son el principal elemento ambiental que ha de ser considerado. Asimismo, cuando existen estructuras en el medio, como puentes, esta estación puede ser instalada sobre dichas estructuras, reduciendo así su impacto e incrementando la seguridad. En este trabajo se describen el diseño, implementación, operación y funcionamiento de esta estación. También se calcula el índice de éxito en las series temporales más largas de cada una de las tres posibles ubicaciones descritas en la costa gallega: Cíes (boya oceánica frente a la Ría de Vigo), Catoira (boya continental en el río Ulla) y Cortegada (instalada en una batea en la Ría de Arousa).Palabras clave: boya, fondeo, datos en tiempo real, telemetría, fiabilidad, Galicia, red de sensores integrados en el medio.

A New Method for Calculating Water Quality Parameters by Integrating Space–Ground Hyperspectral Data and Spectral-In Situ Assay Data

“…It is conceivable that in the near future, if there is a hyperspectral data acquisition system based on satellite [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] or UAV [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] in the air and a portable spectrometer [19] or buoy spectrometer [1] data acquisition system on the water surface, we can accurately monitor the changes in water quality in real-time and all-weather under the coordination of a central data processing system. The above assumption has become technically possible, but distance practicality still needs to solve four problems: The working mode design of multi-platform sensors [21][22][23], the high-precision calibration of sensors, the selection of characteristic bands under unsupervised data, and the research of the high-precision water quality parameter calculation algorithm.…”

Crucial times for Spanish physical oceanography

“…San Antolín et al (2012) inspect data from three transatlantic sections along 7.5°N to assess how interdecadal changes in intermediate water strata may affect both stratification and double diffusion, and García-Olivares and Herrero (2012) examine the sensitivity of a mechanistic glacial-interglacial model to changes in the parameters that simulate large-scale physical and chemical processes. Martín Miguez et al (2012) compare sea level data as obtained from four different systems during several years to examine their short and long-term accuracy, Emelianov et al (2012) propose that deep thermohaline anomalies have a signal in sea surface temperature that may be detected with a singularity analysis technique, González et al (2012) present a conceptual design for oceanographic and meteorological offshore monitoring stations, Font et al (2012) review the several elements of the SMOS program and provide a first validation of the operational global sea surface salinity maps, and present five years of glider activities which include studies related to glider-path planning and the integration of data from gliders and other in situ and remote platforms.…”