SBIR-STTR Award

Low Cost Ocean Temperature Profile Sensing
Award last edited on: 12/3/2022

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOC : NOAA
Total Award Amount
$649,278
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
9.2.02
Principal Investigator
Jed C Wilbur

Company Information

Creare LLC (AKA: Creare Inc~Creare Product Development LLC)

16 Great Hollow Road
Hanover, NH 03755
   (603) 640-2436
   info@creare.com
   www.creare.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 02
County: Grafton

Phase I

Contract Number: NA20OAR0210323
Start Date: 7/1/2020    Completed: 12/31/2020
Phase I year
2020
Phase I Amount
$149,361
Changes in ocean temperature have a profound impact on the productivity of fisheries and aquaculture. Sampling offshore ocean temperatures, particularly at depth, is challenging and expensive. As commercial fishermen are becoming more and more aware of the correlations between water temperature and harvest, opportunistic sampling from fishing gear can help fill this sampling need. Existing opportunistic sampling programs are hindered by the high cost (order ~$1,000) of sensor nodes and the need for integrating data-transmission hardware with the host ship. A simpler and less expensive approach is needed. Creare and our collaborators at the University of Maine propose to develop the Wireless Open Water Logger (WOWL), an open-source, inexpensive (<$100/unit price), and easy to use ensor for logging water temperature and depth. In Phase I we will design, fabricate and test a proof-ofconcept WOWL sensor, integrate it with our existing online citizen science infrastructure, and demonstrate performance in laboratory and open water testing. In Phase II we will refine the WOWL design, develop supporting hardware, fabricate multiple units, and demonstrate performance in a scientifically relevant study.

Phase II

Contract Number: NA21OAR0210291
Start Date: 7/1/2021    Completed: 6/30/2023
Phase II year
2021
Phase II Amount
$499,917
Changes in ocean temperature profoundly impact the productivity of fisheries and aquaculture. Consistently sampling offshore ocean temperatures, particularly at depth, is challenging and expensive. However, opportunistic sampling from fishing gear can address the challenge. Existing programs, such as Environmental Monitoring on Lobster Traps, have capitalized on this on a small basis. Expanding these programs is hindered by the high cost of sensor nodes and the need for integrating with the host ship. A simpler and less expensive approach is needed. Creare is developing the Wireless Open Water Logger (WOWL, openwaterlogger.org), an open-source, inexpensive, and easy to use sensor for logging water temperature and depth. The WOWL is encapsulated in the waterproof casing that can be readily attached to commercial fishing gear. The system integrates with usersÂ’ smartphones, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware to retrieve and upload data. Data are geo-tagged by the smartphone and then uploaded to an existing, cloud-based, and publicly-accessible data repository. In Phase I we fabricated proof-of concept WOWL sensors and demonstrated their performance in open water testing. In Phase II we will refine and improve the WOWL design, develop supporting hardware, fabricate at least 100 units, and demonstrate performance in large-scale, long-duration, scientific study.