In the Spring of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Science Foundation tasked a committee to explore opportunities and methods of using expanded internet bandwidth to promote remote participation in scientific cruises.
ship_presence_a_collaborative_journey.pdf
The Academic Research Fleet (ARF) consists of numerous vessels which are important mobile platforms for studying world oceans, they offer a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the study of Oceanography and all its disciplines. A successful scientific cruise is dependent on a number of people including scientists, crew, technicians, graduate students, and outreach personnel. As the ability to collect more and more data increases, the number of cruise participants that can sail is diminishing. Near real-time data (NRT), real-time Access (RTA), and traditional telepresence offer shore participants the opportunity to remain involved and collaborate with science at sea.
Near real-time data (NRT), is data collected on the ship either by the ship’s underway systems or science installed equipment. It is collected and then synced to shore within minutes of collection. Running a basic quality check and/or processing of NRT data can provide state-of-health information to ensure optimal operation and help predict sampling opportunities. Having NRT available on shore for shore participation and involvement can help mitigate issues when sailing with a smaller science party. There are numerous mechanisms for transferring NRT data to shore some of which will be discussed later in this document. Real-time access (RTA) to data is a bit more difficult to attain and in most cases requires some dedicated bandwidth. Shore participants can access real-time data via screen sharing of the acquisition computer, by accessing the data on the vessel and processing or quality assessing it, or streaming video to shore for metadata/annotation. Real-time collaboration can occur using VOIP phones installed prior to the cruise to discuss sampling and potential data issues. Technical expertise can be accessed via phone, WhatsApp, or other messaging tools. Students can actively participate by processing video from the deep while on shore using a lower resolution video stream.
Telepresence refers to a suite of communication technologies and methodologies that provide a means for individuals or groups to participate in ocean science research cruises from remote locations. The implementation of telepresence allows for shore-based users to participate at sea without being physically present on the ship. Typically this is done through the use of cameras, video, and voice. The ability to share data, collaborate with experts in the field, and interact in real-time can lead to a successful scientific cruise.