TechOceanS will produce and demonstrate in multiple underwater vehicles, 9 new technologies enabling a step change in ocean biology, chemistry and plastic observation. The technologies include 5 sensors, two imaging systems, a sampler and a new image processing method using Artificial Intelligence (AI) that enables data compression and transmission of information about key variables from the remote ocean. All the systems are robust and submersible to >2000 m and collectively measure at least 63% (12/19) of priority Biogeochemical and Biology and Ecosystems “Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs)” and at least 53% (39/73) of these EOV’s sub-variables. The systems also measure litter, plastics, biotoxins, parasites, pathogens and organic pollutants of relevance to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) as well as fisheries, aquaculture and offshore industries. The sensors include: i) an in situ analyser for Nucleic Acids (DNA and RNA) including eDNA for quantifying species and genes; Lab on a chip (LOC) sensors that will sense ii) nutrients and the carbonate EOVs; and iii) organic contaminants and toxins detected with recombinant antibodies; iv) a primary productivity sensor using time resolved fluorescence; and v) a micro (LOC) cytometer for microorganisms and microplastics. The imaging systems will demonstrate the new image workflow and target benthic (seabed) and pelagic (water column) biology and plastic. The sampler collects up to 1000 particle samples and can be used for plastics, microorganisms and eDNA for later analysis (e.g. sequencing of nucleic acids.) TechOceanS will demonstrate technologies at two sites (Naples, Gran Canaria) for science, aquaculture, fisheries, regulator and industrial users. The project will both develop and use best practices, and will collaborate and disseminate widely with stakeholders and the international community including by hosting training events on ocean observing technologies. TechOceanS expects to commercialise the technologies resulting from this project.

Algae are present in nearly every body of water on the surface of the earth. These microscopic organisms produce roughly half of the oxygen on earth, and are vital to life on the planet. However, algae can also cause significant and expensive damage to their ecosystem, to human health, and to aquaculture stocks when the local environment changes and promotes the rapid growth of a large mass of algae, known as a bloom. Factors such as the concentration of nutrients, temperature, light conditions, and intentional or unintentional interventions by humans or other species all affect the dynamics of algae species and lead to the formation of harmful algal blooms (HABs). In the aquaculture context, HABs present a major health and economic hazard. Severe human health problems can arise from the consumption of shellfish which have been impacted by blooms of toxin-producing algae. These blooms also cause negative economic impacts on aquaculture through aquaculture stock mortality and through temporary site closures and bans on harvesting due to local algae prevalence. Large-scale mortalities of cultured fish due to algae blooms have been reported across the world and financial losses per large episode can range into the tens of millions of pounds. Monitoring of phytoplankton and of the toxins they produce has been undertaken in various forms in the UK for some decades but manual sampling and subsequent off-site analysis can be slow to identify areas with upcoming or rapidly-changing problems. Microscopy, the current standard for performing algae counts, requires trained personnel both in collection and particularly in analysis, and imposes a necessary delay as samples need to be preserved and transported to an analytical facility. The overall objective of this project is to develop new technology to decrease the economic losses and health risks caused by HABs by decreasing the costs of monitoring algae growth in real-time. This technology will complement and address shortcomings in existing monitoring techniques by providing low-cost, high resolution independent data. The PhytoMOPS technology is based on previous lab-based research demonstrating that algal cells could be sorted, counted, and classified using carefully-designed microfluidic channels combined with low-cost optical readouts. The sorting technique, known as "inertial microfluidics", relies on a carefully-designed channel geometry and flow rate to sort cells by shape and size. In this project, we will design a novel optical measurement section after the cell sorting region, in which the microalgal cells are counted and classfied according to their size, shape, and optical absorption properties. The technology will initially be built and evaluated in the lab where the results will be used to develop analytical methods for interpreting the data. In order to be able to make measurements directly in the water, we will adapt the National Oceanography Centre's (NOC's) water chemistry sensor platform which has already been used for long-term autonomous measurements in a wide range of harsh and inaccessible environments. We will combine the well-engineering NOC platform (including microfluidic chips, pumps, valves, and control/communication electronics) with the algae sorting technology to produce a deployable system capable of acting as a standalone, low-cost, low-power monitor of algal species dynamics for early warning of HABS formation. Lastly, this project involves initial field tests of the system. The deployments will be facilitated by two active HAB monitoring organisations who are also providing expert advice throughout the project: the Scottish Assocation for Marine Science and the Agri-Food Bioscience Institute (North Ireland). The system will will be compared directly against manual sampling and existing algal monitoring technology and will be be evaluated for its technical suitability, usability, and long-term potential.

The oceans play a crucial role in the prosperity and future of our civilisation; as a source of natural resources, as host to industry (e.g. transport and offshore energy) and in controlling climate (global warming). Marine environmental science has reached a bottleneck where further advances in knowledge and understanding of the oceans can only be obtained if a new generation of integrated multi-parametric sensors is developed, capable of mass-deployment in the oceans. This cross research council grant application (NERC/EPSRC) is aimed at solving this technology gap. Sensors that measure ocean life and chemistry (not to be confused with physical parameters; temperature etc) are extremely limited. Such measurements underpin many scientific fields, not least the accurate modelling of the oceans' role in climate change. In addition, these sensors are also required by many industrial sectors for routine high resolution, temporal monitoring of environment parameters.Current measurement methods are based on traditional sampling and laboratory analysis, although some macro sensors and devices are being developed. Clearly this approach which will never be able to measure the oceans with sufficient resolution in space and time. New innovative sensor technologies are required - this is the theme of this project. It is proposed to develop a new ruggedised Micro System Technology (RMST) to fabricate a new generation of integrated micro-devices capable of operating in harsh environments, without bulky, expensive and power hungry support systems. The project will focus on two classes of sensing systems: Lab-on-a-chip chemical analysers to detect nutrients and pollutants at the ultra low concentrations found in the oceans; and miniature cytometers to sample and identify individual phytoplankton in the oceans. The systems will be benchmarked against traditional lab-based analytical methods and field tested in the oceans and in Scottish sea lochs aboard submersible gliders, autonomous submarines and profiling floats.

Thousands of Oil & Gas industry structures in the sea are approaching the end of their lives. At this time, they typically need to be removed and the environment returned to a safe state. This process is known as decommissioning. As many of these sites are old (typically 20+ years) and originally were drilled before the current environmental regulations existed, there has often been some contamination of the seabed around these sites. To ensure that no harmful effects will occur, decommissioning operations need to be supported by an environmental assessment and subsequent monitoring. Monitoring may be required over many years after decommissioning, especially if some structures are left in place. Monitoring surveys in the offshore environment are expensive and time-consuming, requiring ships and many specialist seagoing personnel. This requirement, although vital, will have a considerable cost for industry and the public. Ocean robots, which use computer systems to carry out survey missions by themselves, are regularly used in detailed scientific assessments of the environment. As they collect very high-quality data quickly, such robots have recently been adopted for some tasks by industry but these still require an expensive support ship as they are not capable of long-range missions. Recent technological developments have cut the cost and expanded the range of these robots to thousands of kilometres, making it possible for long-range assessments of multiple sites to be undertaken with a robot launched from the shore. This would have many advantages, improving the quality and quantity of environmental information while cutting the costly requirement for a survey ship and crew. We will carry out the first fully autonomous environmental assessment of multiple decommissioning sites. The Autosub long-range ocean robot submarine ("Boaty McBoatface") will be launched from the shore in Shetland, visit and carry out an environmental assessment at three decommissioning sites in the northern North Sea, before returning around 10 days later with the detailed survey information onboard. The robot will take photographs of the seabed, and these will be automatically stitched together to make a map of the seafloor, structures present, and the animals that live there. Established sensor systems will measure a range of properties of the water, including the presence of oil and gas. As well as the decommissioned sites, the robot will visit a special marine protected area where we know there are natural leaks of gas, to check the robot can reliably detect a leak if it did occur. On return to shore, the project will examine all the data obtained and compare it to that gathered using standard survey ship methods. We will test if the same environmental trends can be identified from both datasets to determine if the automated approach would be a suitable replacement for standard survey ship operations. The project will also produce a fully documented case study, which includes detailed information on the costs and benefits, practical information on deployments and approaches to reduce the risks and improve the efficiency of operations. This will be used by industry, scientists and government regulators, to demonstrate the techniques and will provide the necessary information to potential users to aid in their adoption. The overall goal of the project is to improve the environmental protection of the North Sea at a reduced cost and to demonstrate how this leading UK robotic technology could be used worldwide.