The Marine Institute is currently implementing the SmartBay Pilot Project. The network is being developed by the Marine Institute as the first phase of a unique environmental test and demonstration platform. The Pilot Project includes the deployment of marine scientific infrastructure and the development of data management and visualisation tools.
In Summer 2008, two SmartBay buoys were deployed in Galway Bay. The successful deployment of the SmartBay buoys was undertaken by the work vessel Triona. Each SmartBay buoy supports an array of advanced ocean sensors to collect and transmit real time information on ocean conditions that will benefit scientists, commercial fishermen, fish farmers, environmental monitoring agencies and the general public.
SmartBay Infrastructure
As part of the Pilot project, new instrumentation arrays were deployed and existing sources of information were collated as part of an integrated network within Galway Bay. The environmental and oceanographic information comes from the following sources
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SmartBay Galway Pilot Project Infrastructure
SmartBay Sensor Systems
The table below summarises the sensors that are currently deployed in Galway Bay as part of the Pilot Project. To ensure data quality, the Marine Institute carries out regular servicing and maintenance visits.
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Sensors |
Mace Head |
Mid Bay |
Inverin
|
Spideal |
Galway Harbour |
Inis Mor |
|
Temperature |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
Salinity |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
Fluorescence |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
Oxygen |
|
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
Particulate CO2 |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water Sampling |
|
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
Wave |
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
|
|
|
Currents |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
Tide |
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Data Management
The data from the buoys are transmitted in real-time to the Marine Institute offices via GSM. The MI is working in cooperation with IBM to develop a web-portal to provide access to the data and novel methods of viewing the information.