Going with the Flow: Advancement of Drifting Platforms for use in Tidal Energy Site Assessment & Environmental Monitoring

This research project aimed to apply a simple and low cost philosophy to ocean observation by developing an inexpensive low-profile surface drifter for use in initial assessment of potential tidal energy development opportunities.  The project addressed limitations in the existing drifter design by increasing functionality and making them useful at larger scale sites. Drifter development included adapting the platform to increase payload capacity enabling the drifters to carry a tracking device and larger instrument such as an ADCP or passive acoustic hydrophone. Proof of concept testing was carried out in the Digby, NS region. In addition to sensor development, research was conducted to advance data processing and assessment technique.

Team

Principal Investigators: Greg Trowse, Luna Ocean Consulting Ltd.; Dr. Alex Hay, , Richard Cheel,  Anne Lombardi and Walter Judge, Dalhousie University; Dr. Richard Karsten and Thomas Roc Acadia University

Date
April 1, 2015 – August 1, 2017