8. RESOURCE ASSAY EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 
Before any meaningful national program to utilize the world’s oceans can be effectively implemented, 
precise surveys of the ocean must be conducted. Utilizing every resource which can be brought to bear 
upon the problem, the United States must begin immediately to survey accurately the continental 
shelves and deep ocean and measure and sample anomalies of interest. 
The Resource Assay Equipment Development Program is a cornerstone for exploration, utilization, 
management, and development of ocean resources for commercial, scientific, and military programs. It is 
considered that this program will provide the basic broad scale resource information necessary for 
industry to plan and evaluate commercial operations realistically. 
NATIONAL PROJECT 
8. Resource Assay Equipment Development Program 
Fundamental Technology Subsystem and Component Development 
Survey techniques Evaluate a variety of platforms 
— Magnetic Surface ships 
— Acoustic Submarines 
— Gravimetric Airplanes 
— Towed and untethered Towed devices 
Untethered vehicles 
Testing techniques 
Evaluate sensors for particular applications 
Environmental considerations Oil 
Gas 
Navigation and positioning Metals 
Fish 
Underwater viewing Aquifers 
Data handling Evaluate sample extraction equipments 
Soil mechanics 
Expected Benefits Operational Systems 
Economic 
Provide data for industry to make decisions con- U.S. continental shelf resource assay 
cerning exploitation of Ocean resources followed by surveys of slope, rise, and 
deep ocean 
Military 
Provide data to assess status and availability of 
critical raw materials 
VI-238 
