Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
MBARI Research
Marine technology research at MBARI —
Computer software and data processing systems

An often overlooked, but nonetheless vital component of most high-tech ocean monitoring systems is software and hardware that can collect, organize, and archive large quantities of data. MBARI engineers have designed and constructed several systems that not only simplify the process of collecting data, but also make it easier for researchers to analyze and share this data.
  • The video annotation and reference system (VARS)—A database system that allows researchers to record and search for observations of specific animals and objects in thousands of hours of underwater video.
  • The automated video event detection system (AVED)—Artificial intelligence software that allows a computer to identify the most scientifically interesting segments of underwater video recordings.
  • PUCK—A set of guidelines that allows a host computer to recognize a research instrument and begin accepting data from it immediately, in much the same way that a personal computer recognizes when a camera or other device is attached to one of its USB ports.
  • The shore-side data system (SSDS)—A software system designed to take data from a wide variety of oceanographic sensors and combine these data in a single database for analysis and display.
  • The marine metadata initiative (MMI)—A multi-institution effort to to standardize the ways in which oceanographic instruments collect and report data.
The video annotation and reference system (VARS)

The video annotation and reference system (VARS) is a extensive, expandable database system that allows researchers to record and search for observations of specific animals and objects from thousands of hours of underwater video.

The automated video event detection system (AVED)

The automated video event detection system (AVED) is a suite of artificial intelligence software that allows a computer to identify the most scientifically interesting segments of underwater video recordings.

PUCK

To simplify the process of adding new instruments to an oceanographic mooring or underwater observatory, MBARI engineers developed a communication protocol called PUCK, which allows a host computer to recognize an instrument and begin accepting data from it immediately, in much the same way that a personal computer recognizes when a camera or other device is attached to one of its USB ports. In early 2012, PUCK was certified by an international standards organization known as the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC).

    MBARI lead researcher in this field:
    Tom O'Reilly (Software engineer)
The shore-side data system (SSDS)

MBARI's shore-side data system (SSDS) is a database-driven system that can acquire data from a wide variety of oceanographic sensors and combine these data in a single data base for analysis and display.

The marine metadata initiative (MMI)

As part of the marine metadata initiative, MBARI researchers have spearheaded a multi-institution effort to standardize the ways in which oceanographic instruments collect and report data.

    MBARI lead researcher in this field:
    Carlos Rueda (SoftwareEngineer)

 

Last updated: Nov. 08, 2012