...provide data that will permit a better scientific \Jinder- 

 stainding of the marine environment. 



...demonstrate the economic, military, scientific and social 

 benefits that may be derived from operational NDB Systems. 



The development program is based generally on a three- pronged 

 plan of attack (Figure 1): 



(1) First, a thorough assessment of buoy and sensor tech- 

 nology. Concurrent laboratory and in situ testing and evaluation 

 of sensors and support hardware will be conducted. Platforms in 

 the oceans, together with mobile communications equipment, will 



be used for in situ testing of components such as sensors, 

 moorings, telemetry, and buoy platforms. This effort will provide 

 performance information for correlation with laboratory test 

 results . 



(2) Second, a program of applied research and exploratory 

 investigations. This phase will be directed at achieving improve- 

 ments beyond the near-term state-of-the-art for high risk or low 

 performance components and materials. Investigations will cover 

 items such as sensors with a minimum number of moving parts, 

 improved protective coatings to prevent marine fouling, new 

 materials for mooring cables, and improved power supplies. The 

 requirements for observations in the Great Lakes, estuarial, and 

 polar regions will also be studied. Development of biological 

 and chemical sensors which would expand buoy system capability may 

 also be undertaken. 



(3) Finally, concept formulation and engineering develop- 

 ment of pilot buoy networks. The objective of concept formula- 

 tion is to provide the technical and economic bases for a decision 

 to initiate engineering development. During concept formulation, 

 cost, performance, and schedule estimates of system alternatives 

 needed for adequate tradeoff and risk analyses will be undertaken. 

 Design factors of major components such as sensors, moorings, 

 power supplies, telemetry, buoy platforms, servicing ships and 

 shore stations will be investigated along with operational eind 

 maintenance concepts. Mission and environmental variability 

 ginalyses aind refined requirements will be integrated with the 

 technical development to yield realistic performance characteris- 

 tics, and the technical feasibility of the systems proposed will 



be demonstrated. The activities of concept formulation will result 

 in firm requirements and baseline characteristics for data buoy 

 systems with competitive cost-effectiveness values. During 

 engineering development, design specifications will be developed 

 and pilot buoy networks designed and manufactured. 



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