seafloor soil mechanics is to be understood. The 
information derived should be made available in 
engineering design handbooks. Operational tech- 
niques that minimize soil disturbance and ways of 
increasing subsurface sediment structural strength 
must be sought. 
J. Data Handling 
Problems of handling large quantities of diverse 
environmental data will continue to increase rap- 
idly. The technology of fast, high-capacity auto- 
matic data handling systems has increased mark- 
edly in recent years with third generation high- 
speed digital computers now in general use. 
Storage and retrieval systems can provide ran- 
dom access to large masses of data, permitting 
reduction of data storage in the computer itself. 
This advanced technology has not been applied to 
the marine program to any important degree as 
yet.* Shipboard computer use was begun fairly 
recently and is increasing. However, most of these 
computers are being employed primarily as data 
storage mechanisms, not as realtime data proces- 
sing systems. 
1. Current Situation 
a. Data Gathering Many new instruments for 
collecting oceanographic data have been designed 
for direct digital data collection. Examples are 
sound velocimeters, salinometers, and expendable 
bathythermographs. To date, however, these gen- 
erally have had their own shipboard digital re- 
corders. 
b. Data Display and Recording Both digital and 
analog displays are being used now in marine data 
collection, permitting immediate, rapid data evalu- 
ation and checks on collection quality. However, 
many techniques still are primitive. Strip chart 
records, for example, require laborious manual 
processing and analysis. Digital magnetic types are 
in use but in lengthy experimental programs large 
volumes of tape can be generated, creating a 
storage problem. Therefore, techniques to com- 
*The problem of data handling is under intensive 
study by the National Council on Marine Resources and 
Engineering Development. 
press digital outputs will be necessary to optimize 
information content, especially with buoy sys- 
tems. 
c. Data Processing With shipboard computers in 
oceanographic measurement programs, speed of 
data collection and processing has increased signifi- 
cantly. Much processing is routine as in the 
reduction of Nansen cast data and correction of 
reversing thermometers. Shipboard employment of 
the computer as a realtime data processor has been 
limited. Some use has been made of realtime 
collection and processing systems for acoustic 
studies, especially for and by the Navy. 
d. Data Relay Developments Systems are being 
developed to telemeter data required at sea in 
realtime directly or via relays (ships, buoys, 
satellites, or shore stations) to central data process- 
ing activities (Figure 25). Here the data can be 
immediately interpreted and new instructions sent 
back to the survey vehicle. This offers improved 
accuracy and speed while making possible use of 
simpler, less costly equipment aboard the survey 
vehicle. 
ESSA ODESSA SYSTEM 
UNMANNED BUOY SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING OCEANOGRAPHIC AND METEOROLOGICAL DATA AT SEA 
AND GEODETIC SURVEY RESEARCH PROGRAM 
SHIP INTERROGATION / SATELLITE 
/ INTERROGATION 
Z rea 
; [i 
antenna | METEOROLOGICAL SENSOR 
PACKAGE 
( BUOY ELECTRONICS 
‘isan \ tl satue} ss] transceiver 
OCEANOGRAPHIC SENSOR PACKAGE SURFACE BUOY i wean, \g reece 
[skiff or disk) i VS = 
30-300 day capability & = r 
= Se . 
] current speed ae + 
il curreot-direction 
' 
CONSOLE 
(electronics) 
tape recorder 
Wansmitter 
SENSOR PACKAGE* 
{see detail) 
OCEANOGRAPHIC ij { 
1] 
“yyy, pressure 
temperature 
J. and conductivity 
| 
i 
Figure 25. ODESSA system telemeters environ- 
mental data from unmanned buoys to ship or 
satellite for subsequent transfer to central data 
processing facilities. (ESSA photo) 
“boay will accommodate up to 7 sensor packages 
VI-71 
