Real-time Internet Data Collection for ORION Platforms

A range of telecommunications technologies are available to provide ORION platforms with data collection and command and control functions. Options range from cell phones, cables, and point-to-point microwave links for near-shore platforms to C-band and Ku-band satellite systems for deep-ocean platforms. We outline the characteristics and costs of representative communications systems. HiSeasNet, which provides or will provide continuous Internet connectivity to most of the larger UNOLS ships, serves as a prototype for ORION's deep-ocean observatories. We describe the architecture of this system and its middleware component, ROADNet (Real-time Observatories, Applications, and Data management Network). ROADNet provides the infrastructure for multiple sensors (e.g. cameras, meteorology, seismic, geodetic, chemical), data buffering, data sharing, data grids, and information integration that supports the multidisciplinary collection of measurements on distributed sensor platforms.

http://roadnet.ucsd.edu