Imagine trying to map a dark room while the ceiling is constantly moving and blocking your view; that is what observing the Arctic Ocean is like. This project puts a network of smart underwater 'anchors' and floating buoys in the deep ocean to listen and feel what is happening below the ice. It uses sound waves and AI to track movement and temperature, creating a digital map of a region that is usually invisible.
Collecting data from the ice-covered Arctic Ocean is extremely difficult and expensive due to the physical barrier of sea ice. This creates a 'blind spot' for companies and governments monitoring climate risks, underwater navigation, and geophysical hazards.
A network of multipurpose moorings and ice buoys equipped with acoustic arrays and ROV-compatible data retrieval systems. A digital analysis platform using machine learning was also developed via Blue Insight.
If you are a shipping operator dealing with unpredictable ice-covered routes — this project developed underwater positioning and navigation networks that provide real-time data on ocean-ice interactions. This allows for safer route planning in the Nansen and Amundsen Basins.
If you are a sensor manufacturer dealing with the difficulty of retrieving data from under thick ice — this project developed ROV- and winch-based data retrieval systems. This removes the need for expensive or risky manual recovery of deep-sea moorings.
If you are an infrastructure developer dealing with geophysical hazards in deep waters — this project developed acoustic arrays for the detection of geohazards and human-generated noise. This helps in monitoring the structural integrity and safety of underwater assets.
Based on available project data, the specific costs or pricing for the technology are not disclosed.
The project is currently in the validation phase with field experiments running annually from 2024 to 2026. It is not yet at full industrial scale but is being tested in the Nansen and Amundsen Basins.
Based on available project data, the project emphasizes Open Science and FAIR principles, making methods and tools available via the Blue Insight platform and Zenodo.
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2027-12-31, with active field experiments scheduled every summer from 2024 to 2026.
Yes, the project is developing digital tools and machine learning methods that are being ingested into the Blue Insight digital platform for user access.
The consortium is well-balanced for technology transfer, featuring a 31% industry ratio with 4 industrial partners, including 3 SMEs. With 13 partners across 6 countries, the project blends high-level academic research (2 universities, 6 research centers) with practical industrial application, coordinated by an SME (Nansen Senter), which typically suggests a focus on agile development and commercial viability.
Contact Stiftelsen Nansen Senter for Miljoog Fjernmaling in Norway
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for Arctic acoustic monitoring tools.
