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Advanced Instruments for Marine Research
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Advanced Instruments for Marine Research

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2020) | Viewed by 16035

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Marco Marcelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology (LOSEM), Department of Biological and Ecological Sciences, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Interests: experimental oceanography; biological oceanography; fluorescence; technological development; marine low-cost technologies; primary production research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The need of new observing technologies and networks is a priority of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) 2030 Strategy to enhance the understanding of ocean processes for the sustainable management of marine ecosystems and future climate change scenarios. Innovations in subsea technology, sensors, autonomous systems, computing and data transmission produced new ways in ocean observing and monitoring, strengthening operational oceanography and improving decision making processes in many sectors of the global maritime economy. Despite all these rapid advances, there is still a lack of observations, requiring a greater technological effort to extend the "Essential Ocean Variables", especially to the biological ones. In fact, although biological ocean observations are often complex to measure, it is essential to integrate them to physical and chemical ones into multi-platform observing systems in order to understand the functioning and structure of marine ecosystems. In this context, cost-effective technologies are fundamental to support sustained observational networks, reducing the cost of oceanographic surveys and improving spatial and temporal data coverage. The development of sensors for autonomous applications, miniaturization of components and reduction of energy consumption are essential to provide long-term observations, also in extreme environments. The availability of new low-cost communication systems (eg. LoRaWAN) and sensors together with the increasing amount of data from heterogeneous sources (eg. citizen science) is revolutionizing the observing potentiality, applying the paradigm of the "Internet of Things" to the sea. This special issue explores and shares innovative investigations on marine sensing technologies and applications, state of the art of current instruments and platforms used for marine research, including in situ sampling techniques, buoys, floats, underwater vehicles, autonomous systems, integrated sensor networks and observatories as well as low-cost technologies.

Prof. Marco Marcelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Ocean measurement techniques
  • Oceanographic sensors
  • Biological sensing
  • Oceanographic platforms
  • Acoustic methods
  • Voluntary
  • Observing Ships
  • Cost-effective technologies
  • Autonomous systems
  • Data transmission systems
  • Observing systems

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 5410 KiB  
Article
Sensitivity and Directivity Analysis of Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Cantilever-Based MEMS Hydrophone for Underwater Applications
by Basit Abdul, Vincenzo Mariano Mastronardi, Antonio Qualtieri, Luciana Algieri, Francesco Guido, Francesco Rizzi and Massimo De Vittorio
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(10), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8100784 - 9 Oct 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4799
Abstract
In this paper, we report on the characterization of the sensitivity and the directionality of a novel ultrasonic hydrophone fabricated by micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) process, using aluminum nitride (AlN) thin film as piezoelectric functional layer and exploiting a stress-driven design. Hydrophone structure and [...] Read more.
In this paper, we report on the characterization of the sensitivity and the directionality of a novel ultrasonic hydrophone fabricated by micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) process, using aluminum nitride (AlN) thin film as piezoelectric functional layer and exploiting a stress-driven design. Hydrophone structure and fabrication consist of four piezoelectric cantilevers in cross configuration, whose first resonant frequency mode in water is designed between 20 kHz and 200 kHz. The MEMS fabricated structures exploit 1 µm and 2 µm thick piezoelectric AlN thin film embedded between two molybdenum electrodes grown by DC magnetron sputtering on silicon (Si) wafer. The 200 nm thick molybdenum electrodes thin layers add a stress-gradient through cantilever thickness, leading to an out-of-plane cantilever bending. A water resistant parylene conformal coating of 1 µm was deposited on each cantilever for waterproof operation. AlN upward bent cantilevers show maximum sensitivity up to −163 dB. The cross configuration of four stress-driven piezoelectric cantilevers, combined with an opportune algorithm for processing all data sensors, permits a finer directionality response of this hydrophone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Instruments for Marine Research)
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16 pages, 6675 KiB  
Article
New Cost-Effective Technologies Applied to the Study of the Glacier Melting Influence on Physical and Biological Processes in Kongsfjorden Area (Svalbard)
by Lorenzo Pasculli, Viviana Piermattei, Alice Madonia, Gabriele Bruzzone, Massimo Caccia, Roberta Ferretti, Angelo Odetti and Marco Marcelli
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(8), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8080593 - 8 Aug 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2816
Abstract
The Arctic region is greatly affected by climate change, with evident alterations in both physical and biological processes: temperatures are changing at a rate that is twice the global average and phytoplankton productivity is directly affected by ice melting. Continuous monitoring of this [...] Read more.
The Arctic region is greatly affected by climate change, with evident alterations in both physical and biological processes: temperatures are changing at a rate that is twice the global average and phytoplankton productivity is directly affected by ice melting. Continuous monitoring of this ecosystem is fundamental to gain greater understanding of the impact of changes on the natural environment, but the Global Ocean Observing System only provides partial coverage in these extreme areas, which are particularly difficult to reach. Technological progress in oceanographic measurement capabilities is indispensable for the implementation of marine observatories, especially in these remote regions. In recent years, autonomous systems and cost-effective technologies have proved to be valuable for increasing spatial and temporal coverage of data. This is the case with the innovative ArLoC (Arctic Low-Cost) probe, which was designed and developed for easy integration into various types of platforms, enabling continuous measurement of temperature, pressure and fluorescence of chlorophyll a. This work reports on the results of two scientific campaigns carried out in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard Islands) in 2018 in the framework of the UVASS (Unmanned Vehicles for Autonomous Sensing and Sampling) research project. The ArLoC probe was integrated onboard the PROTEUS (Portable RObotic TEchnology for Unmanned Surveys) unmanned semi-submersible vehicle and this allowed us to collect important data in the stretches of sea near tidewater glacier fronts. The acquired data showed several significant effects of glacier melting such as: high temperature and salinity gradients, which cause considerable variations in water mass stratification, and an increase in turbidity and the chlorophyll a concentration, which directly affects primary productivity and the trophic chain. During the surveys, ArLoC proved to be an easy-to-integrate, very reliable instrument, which permitted high spatial resolution investigation of ecological processes during glacier melting as never studied before. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Instruments for Marine Research)
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15 pages, 649 KiB  
Article
Using Orthogonal Combined Signals in Broadband ADCP for Improving Velocity Measurement
by Yujing Lin, Fei Yuan and En Cheng
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(6), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8060450 - 19 Jun 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2524
Abstract
Broadband Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (BBADCP) is a widely used technology in velocity measurements. To adapt to the varied water environment and different measurement requirements, flexible tuning of transmitted signal parameters will improve the feasibility and accuracy of velocity measurement. Compared with the [...] Read more.
Broadband Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (BBADCP) is a widely used technology in velocity measurements. To adapt to the varied water environment and different measurement requirements, flexible tuning of transmitted signal parameters will improve the feasibility and accuracy of velocity measurement. Compared with the conventional signal, the orthogonal combined signal designed in this paper can generate a wealth of signal combination examples and improve the accuracy of the velocity measurement under the same conditions. The proposed orthogonal combined signal consists of two orthogonal sub-signals with a symmetrical spectrum. Each is designed based on time delay to eliminate or weaken the current velocity ambiguity. Then, the processing method of the received signal when the pulse signals are the same or different coded signal is discussed. The numerical simulation results show that, when using the proposed method, the standard deviation of the estimated current velocity has different degrees of reduction at different current velocities. Our simulation also shows that, compared to the convention method, the proposed method can improve the SNR by 10 dB. This can help significantly increase the scope of the configuration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Instruments for Marine Research)
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31 pages, 951 KiB  
Article
FiniteAmplitude Power Budget Equations for Acoustic Fish Abundance Estimation
by Per Lunde
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(2), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8020098 - 6 Feb 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1972
Abstract
Finiteamplitude (nonlinear) sound propagation effects in seawater may cause measurement errors in fish and zooplankton abundance estimation and species identification for accessible echo sounder transmit electrical power levels and operating frequencies of about 100 kHz and higher. A sufficiently validated framework to quantify, [...] Read more.
Finiteamplitude (nonlinear) sound propagation effects in seawater may cause measurement errors in fish and zooplankton abundance estimation and species identification for accessible echo sounder transmit electrical power levels and operating frequencies of about 100 kHz and higher. A sufficiently validated framework to quantify, control, and compensate for such errors in these applications is not available. The conventional power budget equations in fisheries acoustics are valid for smallamplitude signals only. The study aims to fill this “gap”. The conventional theory is generalized to account for finiteamplitude incident sound propagation, arbitrary electrical termination, and the range of electrical and acoustical echo sounder parameters. Equations for use in calibration and oceanic surveying are derived in terms of the backscattering cross section,, and the volume backscattering coefficient,. The “finiteamplitude terms” in these expressions can—for relevant transmit electrical power levels of relevant echo sounders—be measured in controlled tank experiments. Alternatively, they can be calculated using numerical models. The resulting equations enable estimation of finiteamplitude measurement errors in these applications; development of recommended upper limits for echo sounder power levels; controlled reduction of finiteamplitude errors in calibration and surveying; and development of correction factors for survey data already subjected to such measurement errors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Instruments for Marine Research)
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23 pages, 6800 KiB  
Article
A Sensor Web Prototype for Cabled Seafloor Observatories in the East China Sea
by Yang Yu, Huiping Xu and Changwei Xu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2019, 7(11), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse7110414 - 13 Nov 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3336
Abstract
Seafloor observatories enable continuous power supply and real-time bidirectional data transmission, which marks a new way for marine environment monitoring. As in situ observation produces massive data in a constant way, the research involved with data acquisition, data transmission, data analysis, and user-oriented [...] Read more.
Seafloor observatories enable continuous power supply and real-time bidirectional data transmission, which marks a new way for marine environment monitoring. As in situ observation produces massive data in a constant way, the research involved with data acquisition, data transmission, data analysis, and user-oriented data application is vital to the close-loop operations of seafloor observatories. In this paper, we design and implement a sensor web prototype (ESOSW) to resolve seafloor observatory information processing in a plug-and-play way. A sensor web architecture is first introduced, which is information-oriented and structured into four layers enabling bidirectional information flow of observation data and control commands. Based on the layered architecture, the GOE Control Method and the Hot Swapping Interpretation Method are proposed as the plug-and-play mechanism for sensor control and data processing of seafloor observatory networks. ESOSW was thus implemented with the remote-control system, the data management system, and the real-time monitoring system, supporting managed sensor control and on-demand measurement. ESOSW was tested for plug-and-play enablement through a series of trials and was put into service for the East China Sea Seafloor Observation System. The experiment shows that the sensor web prototype design and implementation are feasible and could be a general reference to related seafloor observatory networks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Instruments for Marine Research)
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