2003-2007 - Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

Here you can find the information submitted for each of the Research Lines.
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Research Line Information
(RL-COMP-750009-151)
Designation: Technologies for Ocean Exploration
Principal Investigator: Antonio Manuel dos Santos Pascoal
Research Area: Electrical and Computer Engineering
General Objectives:
The main goal of thematic area A, entitled Technologies for Ocean Exploration, is to carry out research and development in marine science and technology for a
better understanding of the oceans, and to use this knowledge for the sustainable benefit of society. This far-reaching goal set the stage for the work program
adopted. The area brings to the core of its R&D activities research groups with different, yet complementary expertise and encompasses a wide spectrum of
activities that touch upon theoretical and practical issues on marine science and technology. The program targets the Azores as a natural laboratory for the study
of a number of challenging scientific issues in the fields of biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography.
At a technological level, this concerted effort is in line with the current trend worldwide, aimed at the development of ocean sampling networks (OSN) providing a
nested ocean observation capability through cooperative control of networked, fixed and mobile sensor platforms. We aim to bring advances in robotics,
communications, and systems and information theory to bear on the development of advanced marine platforms (including autonomous vehicles) that will afford
marine scientists far more efficient tools than available today to study the ocean and its frontiers.
Major Achievements:
The R&D activity addressed a vast number of issues that are at the crossroad of science and engineering.
Engineering:
A large spectrum of problems were addressed, the solutions of which are key to the development of advanced technology for marine exploration. Theoretical
work led to novel algorithms for navigation, guidance, and control of autonomous systems, as well as cooperative motion control of multiple heterogeneous
uninhabited systems in the presence of stringent acoustic communication constraints.
Science:
Through IMAR, the Associated Lab has effectively become a leading research center for integrated studies on seamounts and hydrothermal vents, involved in 8
projects of the FP6. It is also the world leading research center on the study of the deep-sea chemo-synthetic mussel Bathymodiolus and the 23rd Web of
Knowledge ranked institution on the study of hydrothermal vent extreme ecosystems. The implementation of LabHorta (a new international laboratory for the
study of hydrothermal vents) was a major milestone, for it opened a new window on the studies of extreme ecosystems of the deep-sea.
Public outreach through Creminer was noteworthy, with involvement in the National Museum of Natural History and in the setting-up of two "live science" centers.
In what concerns marine geology (including studies on hydrothermal activity, deep biosphere, and submarine volcanology) the areas of work included the Azores
Sea, the Southwest Pacific, and the North Atlantic. Especially relevant was the discovery of how the Rainbow ores were formed in a new environment with
unusual rocks.
Bridging the gap between science and technology:
Representative milestones include: i) mission with a MAYA autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in Goa, India that allowed for the detection of hypoxia in a
water dam; ii) MOMARETO cruise in the Azores, where instrumentation and algorithms for acoustic backscatter data acquisition were used to automate the
process of marine habitat mapping classification near deep water hydrothermal vents, iii) bathymetric data acquisition with the Delfim ASC and digital terrain map
building around the island of Faial, iv) development of the key components (scientific equipment and laboratory space) of an Environmental Laboratory in the
Azores, as envisioned in the scope of the Re-Equipment program of FCT, v) joint participation in the GREX and FREEsubNET EC programs, leading to the definition
of mission scenarios and techniques for networked marine vehicle operation.
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Research Groups
Centre of IMAR of the University of the Azores/ Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (IMAR-DOP/UAz)
(Reference: RG-Centro-Coimbra-750009-3433 | PI: Ricardo Piedade Abreu Serrão Santos)
DSORL - Dynamical Systems and Ocean Robotics Laboratory
(Reference: RG-LVT-Lisboa-750009-3438 | PI: Antonio Manuel dos Santos Pascoal)
Centre of Mineral Resources, Mineralogy and Crystalography of the Faculty of Science of Lisbon University (CREMINER)
(Reference: RG-LVT-Lisboa-750009-3589 | PI: Fernando José Arraiano de Sousa Barriga)
[Information accessed: 06-11-2008 15:34:10 on www.fct.mctes.pt]
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Research Line Output
Collaborative Publications in peer review Journals (Include only if more that one Research Groups of the LA is involved up to max of 10. Give title and
full citation in original language)
F. Cardigos, A. Colaco, P. R. Dando, S. P. Avila, P. M. Sarradin, F. Tempera, P. Conceicao, A. Pascoal, and R. S. Santos, "Shallow water hydrothermal vent field