First release: 9/21/1999

Updated: 11/13/2001

This report describes the MOOS Implementation Plan, and includes an overview of the following:

• scope of the MOOS program

• management plan

• project coordination and risk management
• MOOS project plans
• collaborations with other institutions

Long term plans for the MBARI Ocean Observing System program include both mooring based observatories and cabled observatory systems.

The mooring observatory system will provide capabilities to instrument upper water column and benthic locations of scientific interest in various geographical sites. Advanced capabilities will include satellite based bi-directional communications, event detection and response, as well as integration and operation with other advanced platforms including AUV’s and vertical profilers. It is envisaged that there will be three major deployment phases during the development program, the first being an engineering test program, the last two being tied closely to science programs. After the development program deployments, there may be other build and deployment programs that are part of science proposals to outside funding agencies.

MBARI’s cabled observatory interests are based on a cabled network in Monterey Bay located in areas of scientific interest. It will also function as a test bed for validating NEPTUNE technologies. MBARI is also a full partner in the NEPTUNE program.

Many of the subsystems being developed for the two observatory systems are common to a large degree, such as AUV docking, instrumentation software infrastructure, instrumentation interface, cable laying and connection, event detection and response, data management systems, etc.

In the early phases of the MOOS program, many of the subsystems will go through proof of concept development phases with relatively independent test programs. The later deployments of the MOOS mooring will be increasingly integrated to include many of these sub-systems.

There are three main deployment phases during the mooring observatory development program, the first being an engineering test program, the last two being tied closely to science programs.

This deployment is based on testing the high risk elements of the mooring system and will occur in late 2001/early 2002. The aim will be to verify the mooring dynamics, test the design life of the cable terminations, bending/axial strain relief’s, and to verify our ability to perform the ROV operations between the riser cable and the seafloor mounted instrumentation.

Earlier MOOS Science Experiment’s (MSE’s) have focussed on testing individual MOOS subsystems, or operational procedures in field experiments. MUSE 2000 tested multi-disciplined, multi-PI field operations combined with testing of the operation of AUV’s and the Vertical Profiler. Canyon Dynamics in 2001/2002 will test cable laying and other ROV procedures necessary for working near MOOS benthic expressions. We are currently (11/2001) identifying and outlining a MSE that will occur in 2003. The exact timing will depend on the capabilities needed to support the science experiment and on the availability of resources. This MSE will be the first time that many of the MOOS sub systems will be brought together to operate as a single integrated system in the field. As MOOS development is incremental we will be testing basic system functionality at this stage, later developments will include more capabilities.

This mooring will include the final low power configuration of the power system, completed intra-node communications system and a data connection back to shore. The operating software will be an initial release of ISI software with proof-of-concept applications drivers to support the specific instrument suite specified in the science experiment. Early versions of the Shore Side Data System will be tested with this system.

This MOOS system will include many of the advanced mooring capabilities including autonomous AUV’s with power recharge and data transfer. Satellite communications will allow bi-directional communications for remote deployments. Deployment is anticipated at the earliest in 2005, and will be tied closely into a science program that will benefit from these capabilities. Selection of the science experiment will not take place till after deployment #2. A prototype may be developed and tested prior to the main deployment.

MBARI is a full NEPTUNE partner, with the principal contributions being to:

• the systems engineering development of NEPTUNE, and
• installation of the NEPTUNE test bed in Monterey Bay (MARS)

MARS CDR is scheduled for Q2 of 2003 with installation starting in Q4 of 2004.

2. Management Plan

Management of MOOS is particularly challenging due to the following considerations:

• The individual projects are relatively autonomous but have interfaces and interdependencies that must be identified early and coordination maintained as the systems are developed.
• It is important to strike the right balance between efforts expended on development programs and efforts expended on demonstrating new capabilities with field experiments supporting science programs.
• We wish to maximize our involvement in community observatory programs so that our designs are adopted by, and benefit, the wider oceanographic community. However the timing and nature of these collaborations is uncertain and unpredictable. To meet this need we will have to maintain a certain level of flexibility with our program.
• The development efforts are incremental as many of the projects are high risk research programs. This poses a particular challenge for pulling together multi project system integration efforts.
• Resources available for MOOS are capped to ensure that the MOOS program does not affect engineering resources needed to support other approved science and engineers projects. This will make it particularly challenging to meet long term milestones. With capped resources, research projects, complex incremental development, and science experiment support, the only variable available for maintaining the program is to be able to slip milestones and to have yearly review of status and future plans.

To ensure that the MOOS program is carefully managed and coordinated, there will be a MOOS Steering Group, Project Manager, Project Scientist, Systems Engineer and a Systems Engineering Team.

The MOOS Steering Group will provide Institute level oversight of the MOOS program. This Steering Group will

• set the long term goals and plans for MOOS
• review and recommend the development programs and resource allocations for MOOS on a yearly basis
• provide a forum for evaluating the balance between science needs and program management.
• identify and recommend collaborations on MOOS development programs

Marcia McNutt, Jim Bellingham, Mike Pinto and Ed Delong constitute the MOOS Steering Group.

The Project Manager, Keith Raybould, will be responsible for the budget, schedule and performance of the MOOS program. He will ensure the systems are designed and deployed to meet the needs of the Science Experiments within the overall constraints of the budgets and resources allocated to MOOS. The PM will coordinate generating the plans for the MOOS project on a yearly basis that will be reviewed by the MOOS Steering Committee during the usual proposal cycle. The PM will also ensure that the projects hold design reviews at the appropriate times to maximize communication between projects, provide external expertise to review technical approaches and to ensure system compatibility.

The systems engineer for the MOOS mooring based observatory Mark Chaffey assists the Project Manager with ensuring technical compatibility across the MOOS projects. He will coordinate the efforts of the systems engineering team (comprised of engineers from the individual projects 3.1.6). MOOS system engineering team tasks include developing the science requirements, developing the high level systems design of MOOS, identifying system level trade studies, instigating interface control where needed, and developing the design requirements.

Gene Massion is the systems engineer for the MOOS cabled observatory efforts.

The project scientist for the MOOS mooring based observatory, John Ryan, will be responsible for working with and providing science input to the MOOS engineering teams to help with design trade off studies that affect the scientific capabilities of the system. He will also be responsible for coordinating the science aspects of the MOOS field science experiment in 2003 as well as subsequent MOOS mooring based observatory science experiments.

Individual projects will be responsible for designing, fabricating, deploying and testing hardware and software systems for MOOS, within the allocated budget, to meet the milestones in the top level schedule, and to meet the overall system level design requirements.

MOOS systems engineering team comprises of Keith Raybould, Mark Chaffey, Duane Edgington, John Graybeal, Tom O’Reilly, John Ryan and Jon Erickson. MOOS system engineering team tasks include developing the high level systems design of MOOS, identifying system level trade studies, instigating interface control where needed.

The MOOS science team will be responsible for planning and executing the Science Experiments using the MOOS capabilities. From mid 2001 (post MUSE and the Canyon Dynamics experiment) these efforts will be lead by the MOOS project scientist, John Ryan. Where possible the MOOS Science experiments will:

• demonstrate the capabilities of the MOOS system,
• be based on answering important science questions and provide valuable science data set(s) by the end of the experiment
• be multidisciplinary in nature (and if possible, involve investigators from other institutions)
• have a defined duration (up to 12 months)
• involve other oceanographic institutions wherever possible

The MOOS science experiments undertaken so far or planned include:

This program was coordinated by Mike Mathews and was undertaken in 2000. Principal scientific interests were centered on the responses of upper water column biological communities to episodic physical and chemical changes associated with upwelling events. Specifically, the group focused on the influence of iron resuspension during coastal upwelling, a process believed to significantly influence the timing and magnitude of primary production, biological succession, and biogeochemical activity in surface waters.

For MUSE a high resolution mapping of the upwelling plume and front, using drifters and AUVs, was of primary importance. Key physical, chemical and bio-optical measurements within, across, and outside of the upwelled plume were required, with a high degree of spatial resolution. Different members of the science group took responsibility for key measurements that included physical, chemical, bio-optical, bio-process, and species composition determinations. MOOS systems tested include AUV’s and the vertical profiler.

This experiment, co-ordinated by Gene Massion, will plan and execute an experiment investigating Canyon Processes. ROV cable laying techniques and mating of ROV underwater connectors will be the MOOS operational procedures being tested.

Planning for this science experiment has just started. This MSE will be the first time that many of the MOOS subsystems will be brought together to operate as a single system in the field. As MOOS development is incremental we will be testing basic system functionality at this stage, later developments will include more capabilities. The MOOS capabilities that are to be tested during the MSE will be the MOOS mooring, vertical profiling capabilities, infrastructure software, and shore side data system (SSDS). Other assets that are not being tested such as other RV’s, ROV’s, AUV’s, gliders, etc. could be proposed to participate in MSE 2003 if they enhance the value of the science being undertaken

DMO will be heavily involved in all stages of the MOOS design process to advise and participate in:

• design issues associated with deploying and recovering MOOS

• mooring and mooring instrument maintenance
• ROV capabilities for working on and around the MOOS mooring system
• transition of MOOS assets to operational status

DMO representatives identified to be involved in the MOOS development efforts include Mike Kelley (mooring operation) and TC Dawe (ROV operations).

The high risk elements will be implemented incrementally with the priority of these added capabilities being guided by the needs of the Science Experiments. Early in the MOOS program, testing will be performed to mitigate the risk of these higher risk subsystems. These higher risk capabilities include:

• automated vertical profiling including data transfer and power recharge
• fiber pack laying and mating connectors to a benthic hub
• survivability of the EOM cable in severe storm conditions
• instrumentation plug and work with intermittent communication connectivity
• AUV docking with recharge and data transmission to shore
• high bandwidth satellite communications
• event detection and response

Details plans for the MOOS project are developed and submitted to the MOOS Steering Committee annually for review and approval. The yearly plans fit into the long range plans presented here.

It is the aim of the MOOS program to collaborate to the maximum extent possible with other observatory efforts, either on subsystems or for complete observing systems. This approach maximizes the opportunity for transferring the technology developed at MBARI to the wider oceanographic community.

A national program that best fits our MOOS concepts is DEOS (Deep Earth Ocean Science). DEOS is being organized under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation, with leadership from Scripps (John Orcutt), Woods Hole (Bob Detrick) and University of Washington (John Delaney and Ross Heath. It has two subcomponents: the NEPTUNE cabled observatory for the Juan de Fuca plate, and a moored observatory. The moored observatories will be of two types: a global grid of observatories that will be roughly permanent in their locations, and more mobile observatories that will move from place to place after several years of process studies. The latter is similar in requirements to the mooring system being developed by MOOS. However, the funding, and hence the development timing, for the program is tied to approval of new NSF MRE’s (major research programs) that are temporarily on hold.

MBARI is now a member of a consortium to design and build the NEPTUNE cabled observatory. Other members include U of W, JPL, WHOI, and IPOST. Until the MRE is funded, the plans for NEPTUNE are focussed on completing the cabled observatory design and installing a prototype NEPTUNE cabled system in Monterey Bay (MARS). In addition, our Canadian partner (IPOST) are pursuing funding from Canadian sources to install test beds in Canada and the northern Canadian NEPTUNE installation.

Other collaborative efforts on the NEPTUNE program being investigated include programs for sensor networks, instrumentation software interface and data management development.

MBARI is also investigating collaborations on AUV docking development with Bluefin and WHOI. We are also working on collaborations with Industrial partners to develop mooring power generation systems capable of generating power levels necessary for supporting AUV recharge (in excess of 100W continuous)