Blue Insight - Expanding the digital toolbox to support ocean economies

Akvaplan-niva has signed a contract with Kongsberg Maritime and ConocoPhillips to further expand the capabilities of the digital infrastructure "Blue Insight" (BI). The aim is to better serve the requirements for ecosystem monitoring that ocean industries meet. The collaboration builds on the established relationship in the GLIDER II project financed by ConocoPhillips. While the first part of the GLIDER project focused on real time 2D and 3D visualization of ocean data in a dedicated Ocean View module, the last phase has a longer time span and an increased focus on efficient data management. This will optimize Blue Insight and give Akvaplan-niva a more holistic tool when offering services to increase economic value and safe environmental operations for all ocean-based activities.

During 2021 the work on the digital infrastructure focused on setting up the BI environment and advancing the multi-platform operation and data visualization. The latter were realized in 2D map projections as well as 3D environments that also include relevant offshore assets together with external information-bearing background layers. Tracks of vehicles (like gliders) can be displayed together with measuring data and additional features such as AIS supported positions of vessels in the vicinity, all tremendously supporting contextualization when performing monitoring tasks.

Due to the intensification of the joint collaborative efforts, there has been an increase in the team of dedicated programmers in the project. While further enhancing the visualization capabilities (i. e. the Ocean View module) remains an important focus, there is also an emphasis on data management in the broadest sense, comprising the elements of data flow, sharing, quality control and analysis.

The visualization work will improve several aspects related to comprehensive and seamless 4D data and vehicle track displaying as well as cover application specific dashboards. The work on data flow will introduce an advanced data indexing and cataloguing environment for improved searchability of the growing amount of data. Further, the realization of automated data pushes to selected stakeholders by using the Data Forwarder Module, will demonstrate efficient data sharing. Conductivity and temperature data from the glider vehicles will be shared in real-time with the Norwegian Meteorological Institute for automated assimilation in physical ocean modelling (Norkyst).

For an advanced digital infrastructure to optimize the handling of ocean data, it is important to include automated data quality control and analysis. A central element in this context will be the realization of a cloud-based processing environment with the possibility for external input of custom-made analytical code in different programming languages. Data analysis will be further addressed through the implementation of an in-cloud classifying framework used for the processing of the echo sounder data.

The deep domain knowledge, close partner collaboration and a clear focus and dedication, now materializes in steadily enhancing the efficiency of complex monitoring missions in the interest of customers and stakeholders. As part of this process Akvaplan-niva has already been using Blue Insight successfully in environmental monitoring projects at the Polar Front and within a floating wind park, both on behalf of the energy sector and as part of international research projects (e.g. http://www.bioglider.eu/).

Kongsberg press release: https://www.kongsberg.com/mari...