Technology Committees

Technology Committees and Chairs

The OES Technology Committee Coordinator

Prof. M. A. Atmanand
Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Technology – Madras, Chennai, India
Director (Ret.), National Institute of Ocean Technology, India
Email: adcom-a.atmanand@ieeeoes.org

1. Technology Committees Statements of Scope

1.1 Autonomous Maritime Systems (AMS)

Chair: Bharath Kalyan
2023-2024
Email: bharath.kalyan@ieee.org

Co-Chair: Bill Kirkwood
2023-2024
Email: kiwi@mbari.org

web page: autonomousmarinesystems.org

Keywords: Autonomous, Unmanned Vehicles, Maritime Systems, Navigation, Sub Surface

Scope: The technology of AMS vehicles includes flight, surface and subsurface assemblies that are comprised of various sub-systems and instruments. These include flight systems, navigation components, acoustics, propulsion systems, actuators, batteries, vision systems and computational assets for controls as well as data analysis with the outcome of data products. These various technologies are also implemented in a variety of ways beyond single purpose systems with vertical and horizontal multi-asset deployments working in an integrated fashion. An AMS implementation is frequently used in military applications for security purposes, such as harbors and so forth as well as for battle space preparations. Some systems are used in battle also. Other applications include marine science of all types such as to mid-water biology, mapping, chemical sensing, sampling and persistence applications. Industry is expanding rapidly into AMS vehicles with particular attention to oil field inspection and recently intervention tasks. The committee is active in a variety of ways with a focus on a single track symposium held every other year and rotated around the globe in service to our international membership. Along with these meetings the committee supports Special Issues of the OES Journal of Ocean Engineering. The committee is also playing a key role in AMS education by sponsoring student poster competitions for Masters and PhD students as well as supporting and judging at AMS competitions around the world, with OES frequently taking the top spot as the Sponsor.

1.2. Current, Wave, Turbulence Measurement and Applications

Chair: Weimin Huang
2023-2024

Email: weimin@mun.ca

Keywords: Currents, Waves, Turbulence, Hydrodynamics, Oceanography

Scope: The Current, Wave, Turbulence Measurement and Applications Technology Committee is concerned with methods of measuring dynamic physical parameters of the oceans and applying them to solving problems for society.  The technologies used include sensors for physical, chemical and biological oceanography, and include in situ instruments as well as land-based or water-based remote sensing.  Understanding of fluid dynamics requires fast, small, precise, non-invasive probes, and any applications require high spatial and temporal resolution.   These technologies represent a continuation of the development of direct sensors but other techniques like correlation sonar and drifting floats offer alternatives.  Survivability of sensors remains an issue, particularly in harbors and where fishing is intense on the shelf.

Interests of the technology committee are in developing and validating instruments for measurement as well as in applications in oceanography and environmental impacts.  Observations and related data analytics are required for studies of the general circulation; pollution fingerprinting, transport and diffusion; vertical and horizontal profiles of current in harbors and rivers; spatial mapping of currents in estuaries, rivers and dams; boundary layer studies; wave fields; and pollution and hazard management. Knowledge of these parameters leads to improved safety and efficiency in shipping, coastal engineering and management of coastal waters and marine reserves.

CWTMA organises a four-yearly international workshop and provides papers and reviewers for other workshops and symposia.

1.3. Data Analytics, Integration  and Modeling

Chair: Gopu Potty
2023-2024

Email: gpotty@uri.edu

Co-Chair: Ananya Sen Gupta
2023-2024

Email: ananya-sengupta@uiowa.edu

Keywords: Data Processing, Modeling, database QC, machine learning, data assimilation

The focus of this Technical Committee encompasses all aspects of data processing including data assimilation, data presentation, database design, filtering, modeling, and analysis. Additional focus areas associated with this committee include all activities and products associated with computer-oriented modeling, simulation, and databases within ocean engineering and science. Key research areas include data fusion, computational intelligence, artificial intelligence and machine learning and visualization tools, among many others. Use of models from across different disciplines has become more prevalent with the availability of enhanced computational resources. The TC facilitates these cross disciplinary interactions by highlighting the need for a better description of applicable models and related knowledge-discovery and data visualization, and updating databases with user-friendly interfaces. The TC proposes special sessions in conferences and organizes tutorials, workshops and symposia. It also proposes special issues in pertinent journals, especially the IEEE JOE.


1.4. Ocean Observation Systems and Environmental Sustainability

Chair: René Garello
2023-2024

Email: rene.garello@imt-atlantique.fr

Co-Chair: R. Venkatesan
2023-2024
Email: dr.r.venkatesan@gmail.com

Keywords: observations, interoperability, environment, sustainability, policy

The Ocean Observation Systems and Environmental Sustainability Technology Committee (“OOSES” TC) facilitates the gathering and interpretation of ocean information for the benefit of humanity. In this, the TC focuses on the interactions between the oceans and society. This includes furthering our understanding of the ocean “environment” and disseminating this understanding to decision-making and policy experts.

The TC facilitates discussions and analyses of issues related to the integration of technologies into observing systems as well as advances in observing systems that support decisions and policy making at international and national levels.  Environmental sustainability concerns (e.g., Sustainable Development Goals: SDGs), ocean resources management, technology innovation and international cooperation are elements supporting decision-making. The analyses and recommendations produced by the TC would be disseminated through multiple means including, for example, oceans conference tracks, dedicated workshops and cooperation with GEO and other international organizations.

1.5. Ocean Remote Sensing

Chair: Ferdinando Nunziata
2023-2024

Email: ferdinando.nunziata@uniparthenope.it

Co-Chair: Paolo de Matthaeis
2023-2024

Email: paolo.dematthaeis@nasa.gov

Keywords: sensors, satellite, drones, geophysical monitoring, security

Short and long-term observation and monitoring of the oceans is necessary in order to maintain and increase maritime activity security and sustainable ocean exploitation. In this context there is an ongoing need for better sensors, vehicles and processing for limiting human exposure. Accurate and broad-scope information is necessary to develop optimum enterprises and partnerships. Threats and risks need to be understood and managed.  New technologies and new processing algorithms are relying on better access to data, which is critical when dealing with remote sensing devices. This step is mandatory in any research and development project process and implies techniques, which are difficult to implement as well as expensive.

The interactions of engineers and scientists through our Conferences and Publications creates an assembly of talent that leads to rapid distribution of knowledge and stimulation to develop creative opportunities. The main place to meet and exchange is our flagship Conference, OCEANS. Several IEEE workshops or other conferences include many topics stated in the previous paragraphs and ranging from Earth Observation to AUVs.

1.6. Ocean Sustainable Energy Systems

Chair: William Wilson
2023-2024

Email: wpwilson@ieee.org

Keywords:  Offshore wind, Wave energy, Tidal Power, Energy Storage, Floating platforms.

The Ocean Sustainable Energy Systems Technology Committee supports the development and deployment of fully sustainable and affordable systems for harvesting energy offshore, and delivering that energy in appropriate forms for human use. Thus, offshore wind power plant, tidal-range and tidal-stream generation plant, wave energy converters, systems generating electricity from thermal gradients and/or salinity gradients, offshore solar thermal and photovoltaic systems and systems for the offshore farming of algae and other biomass are all within the scope. Coupled with these energy harvesting technologies, the scope necessarily embraces systems for energy storage such as the various forms of offshore pumped-hydro, underwater compressed air storage and storage of synthesised energy vectors as well as systems for power transmission across stretches of the ocean/sea. Integrated systems comprising systems for energy harvesting, storage and transmission are central.

The scope includes energy-resultants (energy services) as well as energy. As an example, if cooling is required on a Mediterranean island, it may be better to pump cool water from deep in the Mediterranean than to generate electricity offshore and consume that in heat-pumps onshore. Other examples could include offshore data-processing, mineral/metal processing and refinement, and aircraft fuel synthesis.  The OSES Technology Committee partners with the Offshore Energy and Storage Society to run regular workshops and conferences.

1.7. Polar Oceans

Chair: Andreas  Marouchos
2023-2024

Email: andreas.marouchos@csiro.au

Co-Chair: Bill Yu
2023-2024

Email: xxy21@case.edu

web page: http://polaroceans.org/

Keywords: Arctic Ocean, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, extreme conditions

Scope: Research and development in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is dependent on infrastructure that requires long term planning and substantial budgets.  The deployment of engineering and technology solutions in the polar oceans must be adapted to the harsh conditions there.  All science and development goals are subject to weather extremes and remoteness, where even the simplest of measurements need special technology support.  The challenges to monitoring changes in ocean physics and biology, sea ice and ice shelf dynamics need to be met so that we can understand and predict the future of the Earth system.  Commercial operations such as transportation and mineral extraction industries need R & D support to manage the technical and operational challenges. In the Arctic Ocean receding sea ice is opening previously inaccessible sea lanes, which is providing increased commercial opportunities.  The Antarctic region is governed by an international treaty that encourages research and focuses on environmental solutions for the physical systems of ice and water as well as for the unique ecology.  The Polar Oceans TC supports the work addressing these challenges through relevant streams in conferences and the hosting of workshops and symposia.

1.8. Subsea Optics and Vision

Chair: Haiyong Zheng
2023-2024

Email: zhenghaiyong@ouc.edu.cn

Co-Chair: John Watson
2023-2024

Email: j.watson@abdn.ac.uk

Keywords: Classical Optics, Quantum Optics, Photonic Devices, Imaging, Computer Vision, Optical Sensing

Scope: The Subsea Optics and Vision Committee serves a broad technology base with interests in underwater electromagnetic phenomena, research, and applications. Included are: Optical Imaging and Vision; Optical Physics and Physical Channel Characterization; Optical Sensor Development and Characterization; Holography and 3D Imaging Methodology and Processing; Optically-based Navigation; Optical Communications; Electromagnetic Sensing; and Quantum Sensing, Imaging, and Communications.  Applications include:

  1. Conventional, non-conventional, and quantum optical sensor and systems development, testing, and evaluation for imaging, lighting, vehicle point-to-point or multipoint communications, ranging, chemical measurement, energy harvesting, etc.
  2. Active or passive methods for undersea mapping, inspection, navigation, identification, localization, and detection.
  3. Single and multidimensional processing techniques, implementation, and performance as applied to optical communication, image formation, detection/classification processes, secret key distribution and other cryptographic protocols for secure optical communications.
  4. Characterizing the physical characteristics of water and photon behavior for modeling, predicting, describing or enhancing classical and quantum optical imaging/communication performance or capability,
  5. Photogrammetric, tomographic, interferometric, temporal, or spatial principles for object detection, biological or minerogenic particle distribution characterization, chemical measurement, current measurement, data collection, etc.
  6.  Hybrid optical systems used together with other technologies

Several joint IEEE/MTS workshops have been conducted with emphasis on latest developments, technology direction, and future needs relative to a broad segment of the undersea research community.

1.9. Underwater Acoustics

Chair: Suleman Mazhar
2023-2024

Email: suleman.mazhar@fulbrightmail.org

Co-Chair: Mehdi Rahmati
2023-2024

Email: m.rahmati@csuohio.edu

Co-Chair: Xuebo Zhang
2023-2024

Email: xuebo_zhang@ieee.org

Keywords: Sonar, bioacoustics, environmental acoustics, hydrography, naval acoustics

Scope: This committee is concerned with the generation, propagation, scattering, and reception of underwater sound, particularly technologies that enable detection, classification, localization, and quantification. Generic devices used for transmission and/or reception include echo sounders, multibeam sonars, sidescan sonars, acoustic-lens-based sonars, parametric sonars, standard sound sources, and hydrophones used singly or in arrays. When calibrated, these active or passive devices enable measurement and quantitative imaging. Operating frequencies span the sub-hertz to low-megahertz range. Traditional applications include hydrography, as in detecting hazards and determining bathymetry for navigation; military, as in anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures; and search and discovery, as for uses by law enforcement. Other major applications are bioacoustics, or quantification of fish, zooplankton, marine mammals, and other organisms, both mobile and stationary, as in the case of sea grass; environmental acoustics, or direct measurement and/or inference of hydrographic properties of the water column and material properties of the seafloor and sub-bottom; sediment acoustics, or measurement of the properties of suspended and consolidated sediment; and seismic acoustics, involving measurement of natural vibrations in the earth and imaging of the sub-bottom in geophysical exploration. Industrial applications abound, as in surveying the seafloor for offshore civil engineering projects; detecting natural gas seeps and pipeline leaks; inspecting vessel hulls; inspecting subsea platforms used by the offshore oil and gas industry; surveying routes for cables and pipelines; and monitoring noise produced by offshore industrial activities. The committee routinely convenes and conducts sessions at OCEANS Conferences, and liaises with other TCs.

 

1.10. Underwater Communication, Navigation and Positioning

Chair: Milica Stojanovic
2023-2024

Email: millitsa@ece.neu.edu

Co-Chair: Mandar Chitre
2023-2024
Email: mchitre@ieee.org

web page: http://underwatercomms.org

Keywords: Channel Modeling, Link-Layer Techniques, Network-Layer Techniques, Navigation.

Scope: This Technology Committee includes all aspects of wireless (e.g. acoustic) information transmission underwater.  Topics include propagation and communication channel modeling; link-layer techniques (modulation/ detection, coding, signal processing methods such as equalization, synchronization, and array combining); network-layer techniques (channel access and sharing, routing, transport control); functions of localization, navigation and positioning as they relate to the overall architecture and mission of autonomous underwater systems

 

2. Technology Committees Overview

The technical scope of the Oceanic Engineering Society is very broad, encompassing the many specialties within electronic & electrical engineering that are applied in the ocean environment. To provide a focus for these within the OES, technology committees have been formed.  The underlying philosophy is that Technology Committees should each have a clearly defined area of technology as their basis, and then have a scope that includes development of the technology and its applications, and expresses some idea about how their technology benefits humanity. This totem pole going from the foundations in technology to the benefits to humanity sets IEEE-OES apart from many of the ocean-related societies like the science-focused AGU on one hand and the technologically focused MTS on the other.  There are currently 12 Technology Committees and their titles, scopes, keywords and leadership details can be found in Section 3 below.   If you would like to participate in one of these committees, or if you have ideas for the formation of another committee, please contact the Technology Committees Coordinator or the chair of the committee in which you are interested.

The function of an OES Technology Committee, as specified in the OES Bylaws, is summarized below.

The FUNCTION OF AN OES TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE is to promote activities in its field under the overall supervision and administration of ADCOM and to provide the expert knowledge and assistance to:

  • Organize and operate sessions at meetings of IEEE at all levels and at meetings of other organizations with which the OES Society is desirous of cooperating.  They may organize technical symposia and conferences in the area of their technical coverage.
  • Arrange through the Publication Committee and appropriate editors for publishing pertinent papers in IEEE publications.
  • Encourage, generate and review papers within their scope in cooperation with the Journal Editor.

 

3. Technology Committee Activity Funding Scheme

The purpose of the OES TCAF scheme is to empower Technology Committees to plan and carry out activities by simplifying the support process.

A fund is set aside annually in the OES budget for the TECAF Scheme, and Technology Committee Chairs (TCCs) are invited to request support for specific planned events or activities.  Proposals are be invited up to 2 years ahead to allow planning for Workshops or Symposia, or on a shorter time scale for conference special sessions or streams, and on an even shorter time scale for technical meetings and events.  The TECAF Scheme can support planning or promotion activities and assistance, where appropriate, for a volunteer who is affiliated with a Technology Committee to attend an activity.  Note that formal meetings like Workshops and Symposia must be approved by AdCom at least one year in advance and that approval includes budget estimates and possibly requests for funding.  Normally a proposal to the TECAF Scheme for meetings and activities will show significant support from other sources.

The TECAF Scheme is administered by the Technology Committees Coordinator in consultation with the VPTA. There is no closing date because the TECAF Scheme operates on a rolling schedule. For this reason, Technology Committee Chairs are encouraged to submit their proposals as early as possible to the Technology Committees Coordinator.

For proposals that are approved, funds will be disbursed by the OES treasurer.  OES will require an expenses report, and an article in the Beacon Newsletter for each funded project.  Each activity or event should have an outreach element that promotes the Society and its membership.