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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Pilot-Scale Validation of Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors for Underground Pipeline Monitoring

Distributed fiber optic sensing is a cutting-edge technology that has found extensive applications in the monitoring of Ensuring the safety, integrity, and operational efficiency of underground product pipelines is vital for maintaining the nation’s critical infrastructure. Monitoring parameters such as hoop strain, pressure, and acoustic vibrations is key to detecting potential leaks, intrusions, or structural issues. Distributed optical fiber sensor (DOFS) systems provide a compelling solution for continuous, real-time monitoring over long distances. This paper details the development and pilot-scale implementation of DOFS systems for underground pipeline monitoring, evolving from a proof-of-concept stage. Multiple custom-designed DOFS interrogator units—such as optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR), Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA), and multimodal interferometer-based fiber acoustic sensors—were employed to measure key parameters like hoop strain, pressure, and acoustic vibrations. The underground product pipeline's outer diameter is 30 inches, the wall thickness is 1.28 inches, and the 3-foot depth. The fiber deployment strategies, and sensing data acquisition methods for these systems are discussed. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of DOFS in detecting hoop strain, temperature changes, and acoustic vibrations, showcasing their potential for real-time monitoring and enhancing pipeline safety.

distributed fiber sensing↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development of an ERT‐Based Framework for Bentonite Buffers Monitoring From Laboratory Tests: 2. Quantitative Moisture Dynamics Estimation Model

Abstract The long‐term containment of high‐level radioactive waste in geological disposal repositories relies on Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS), with bentonite clay emerging as a candidate material due to its unique properties. Understanding moisture dynamics within bentonite buffers is crucial for EBS performance, as it directly influences the material's swelling capacity, thermal and hydraulic conductivity, mechanical properties, and long‐term evolution under complex thermal‐hydrological‐mechanical (THM) processes. This study develops an advanced Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT)‐based framework to quantitatively monitor moisture dynamics under THM conditions. Our framework extends the Waxman‐Smits model to incorporate the coupled effects of temperature, water content, fluid chemistry, and mechanical changes on bentonite's electrical properties. Utilizing HotBENT‐Lab data from our companion paper, which includes electrical conductivity, CT density, and thermocouple measurements, this study offers a novel methodological framework bridging different scales of the model. Our results show that the extended model can estimate water content from ERT data, capturing spatial and temporal variations in moisture distribution within bentonite columns. However, the model tends to overestimate water content compared to CT density‐derived measurements. We address this discrepancy by incorporating a simplified swelling effect model, which improves agreement between ERT and CT density‐based water content estimates. We also discuss model limitations, including simplified treatment of swelling and micropore effects, and propose a conceptual framework for transitioning from laboratory to field applications, addressing challenges such as parameter scalability, field validation methods, and integration of diverse data sources. This ERT‐based framework can potentially advance real‐world moisture monitoring of bentonite‐based EBS in nuclear waste repositories. Plain Language Summary Safely containing high‐level radioactive waste depends on barriers made from materials like bentonite clay, which is effective because it swells and seals in the waste. To ensure these barriers work well over time, it's important to understand how moisture moves through the clay. Our study developed a new method using ERT to monitor moisture levels in bentonite under conditions that mimic those in actual storage sites, including changes in temperature, water content, and mechanical stress. This study improved an existing model to better account for how these factors affect the clay, allowing us to create more accurate moisture maps. Initially, the proposed model overestimated the amount of water in the clay, but its accuracy was improved by factoring in how the clay swells when wet. This study also identified some limitations of the model and suggested ways to adapt it for use in real‐world waste storage sites. This new approach could lead to better monitoring and safety checks for nuclear waste storage systems, helping to ensure long‐term containment. Key Points This work develops an ERT‐based framework extending the Waxman‐Smits model to monitor bentonite moisture dynamics during coupled THM processes The extended model accurately estimates water content from Electrical Resistivity Tomography data, incorporating swelling effects to improve precision This work proposes a conceptual framework for transitioning from laboratory to field applications, advancing EBS monitoring in nuclear waste repositories

Chen, Hang↗
DOE OSTI2026

Disparities in the air quality monitoring stations and PM₂.₅ in Chicago’s air quality landscape

Fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) poses significant public and environmental health risks in urban areas. Chicago’s dense industry and traffic create variable air quality, yet monitoring is unevenly distributed, resulting in undersampling of air quality data in some city areas. This study applied a hybrid approach using GIS-based kernel density mapping, interpolation modeling (IDW, Spline, Kriging) of USEPA monitoring data, multi-scale temporal trend analyses (hourly to annual), and ESDA. Accordingly, the density surface showed that monitors are concentrated in the affluent north, northwest, and southwest sides of Chicago (up to ~ 0.07 stations per sq mile), while the south and southeast regions, with predominantly minority communities, have virtually no coverage. Overall, citywide coverage is minimal (~ 4–5 monitors total; ~0.02 per sq mile; ≈1 per 600,000 residents). Temporal analyses showed that the city’s mean annual PM₂.₅ (~ 10.8 µg/m³) exceeds USEPA/WHO standards (9 µg/m³), with summer means (~ 17.1 µg/m³) significantly higher than other seasons. Diurnally, a clear pattern was observed, with PM₂.₅ concentrations peaking overnight (00:00–03:00) and during the morning rush hours, and dipping during midday to late afternoon. Spatial distribution of PM₂.₅ identified hotspots near O’Hare Airport, the downtown Loop area, and south-side neighborhoods, contrasting with lower concentrations on the north side, revealing Chicago’s socioeconomic divides and resulting environmental inequities. The findings underscore the need for expanded monitoring and targeted interventions in under-monitored, high-pollution communities to advance equitable community health.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Methane Integrated Monitoring and Measurement System Design

Methane (CH 4 ), an abundant greenhouse gas, is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). In comparison to CO 2 , CH 4 has a larger warming effect over a much shorter lifetime. While technologies to radically reduce global carbon dioxide emissions are materializing, rapid reductions in methane emissions are needed to limit near-term warming. Methane is primarily emitted as a byproduct from agricultural activities and energy extraction/utilization and is currently monitored via bottom-up (i.e., activity level) or top-down (via airborne or satellite retrievals) approaches. However, significant methane leaks remain undetected, and emission rates are challenging to characterize with current monitoring frameworks. In this report, we study methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure using a tiered monitoring approach that combines bottom-up and top-down approaches in an integrated framework. We describe the individual advantages of bottom-up and top-down sensors in both stationary and mobile settings before characterizing how a fully integrated framework can improve predictions and uncertainties of potential leak locations and their emission rates. Further, we study the impact of different atmospheric (wind) conditions on integrated methane monitoring and develop a probabilistic approach to optimal sensor placement, thereby shortening detection times and improving monitoring capabilities. Last, we discuss how biogenic flux modeling can be used to improve assessment of background methane concentrations needed to fully assess the sensitivity of a tiered monitoring system.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

TEAMER - Field Demonstration of MarineSitu’s Marine Energy Monitoring Tools - CRADA 664 (Abstract)

In order to effectively monitor for marine life around marine energy devices and thus minimize the risk of collision, multiple sensors working in coordination and augmented with around-the-clock automated monitoring algorithms need to be installed in challenging high-energy tidal and wave environments. Such systems are often too expensive for widespread adoption, or lack sufficient sensors or smarts to enable around-the-clock, real-time monitoring without human involvement. MarineSitu has been working to tackle this problem by developing a low-cost, combined sonar and stereo camera sensor array with connected real-time AI-based algorithms for automatically detecting marine life in these marine energy suitable environments. In this TEAMER project with Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), MarineSitu will be testing this novel sensor system for the first time in the high-energy tidal channel environment at PNNL’s Marine and Coastal Research Lab. Throughout this deployment, MarineSitu will be monitoring their system and running analytics on the sensor’s data in real-time. Meanwhile, PNNL Data Scientists and Ocean Engineers, will be evaluating the system’s effectiveness and ease of use both as a tool for plug-and-play environmental monitoring and novel environmental monitoring research. In doing so, the team will improve MarineSitu’s system and software, produce insightful data products, and develop novel visualizations and AI algorithms for combining and analyzing the data produced by systems like MarineSitu’s.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2025

East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program 2024 Calendar Year Report

The East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program (BMAP) consists of three tasks that reflect different but complementary approaches to evaluating the ecological integrity of waters near ETTP. These tasks include (1) bioaccumulation monitoring of fish and clams, (2) benthic macroinvertebrate species richness and density monitoring, and (3) fish community monitoring. The sampling and analysis requirements for the ETTP BMAP in calendar year 2024, covering in part both FY 2024 and FY 2025, are outlined in the respective FY sampling and analysis plans (UCOR 2023, 2024). Sampled water bodies and locations for the ETTP BMAP are shown in Figures 1 and 2. This ETTP BMAP report presents the CY 2024 results and provides context with results from previous years. The report also includes Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)–generated biological monitoring data collected for other US Department of Energy programs, including the UCOR Water Resources Restoration Program (WRRP) off-site fish bioaccumulation data (UCOR 2023) and select Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) BMAP fish bioaccumulation data. Historical data collected for the ETTP BMAP and other programs in the nearby Poplar Creek and Clinch River are provided where appropriate. This progress report provides an update on the biological monitoring activities supporting the ETTP UCOR Environmental Compliance organization, which sponsors the ETTP BMAP. In addition to this internal reporting, ETTP BMAP results are provided in the annual remediation effectiveness reports and the annual site environmental reports, both of which are publicly available. BMAP data are also available to the public via the Oak Ridge Environmental Information System (https://ucor.com/oak-ridge-environmental-information-system-oreis/).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Operational and Performance Monitoring of East Tennessee Technology Park Ponds—2025 Results

Performance and operational monitoring are regulatory requirements associated with a non–time-critical removal action for three surface water bodies at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (Figure 1): the K-1007-P1 Pond, the K-901-A Pond, and the K-720 Slough. This progress report summarizes the monitoring activities and results from FY 2025. The goal of ecological enhancement of the K-1007-P1 and K-901-A Ponds is to reduce risk from polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in fish to humans and wildlife. Lowering PCB concentrations in the water column and in the food that fish eat is expected to decrease PCB bioaccumulation in fish. Performance monitoring of the K-1007-P1 Pond focuses on annual PCB trends in water, clams, and fish. PCBs in fish also are sampled annually at the K-720 Slough. Operational monitoring ensures that ecological enhancement measures—including water quality, plant community, fish community, and wildlife actions—have been implemented as intended. Monitoring provides the information necessary to determine whether modifications are needed to attain the design end state (i.e., a heavily vegetated, clearwater pond dominated by sunfish with significantly diminished or at least downwardly trending PCB levels in fish). In FY 2025, fish removal efforts and vegetation planting primarily focused on the K-901-A Pond. These actions were implemented to help push the systems toward the desired end state. Descriptions of the various monitoring activities and preliminary 2025 results are provided in the following sections. An update on fish and plant management actions in FY 2025 is also included in this report. A summary of the more detailed information in this report will be presented as required in the upcoming Remediation Effectiveness Report.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Y-12 National Security Complex Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program—2024 Calendar Year Report

This report provides the results of the CY 2024 sampling of East Fork Poplar Creek (EFPC) as part of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program (BMAP). The results are presented in the context of historical trends. The Y-12 BMAP was developed in 1985 to demonstrate that the effluent limits established for Y-12 protected the classified uses of the receiving stream, particularly the growth and propagation of aquatic life (Loar et al. 1989). Over the years, the BMAP has become an important and valuable long-term measure of stream conditions resulting from actions and activities at the Y-12 Complex. The BMAP currently consists of three tasks: (1) bioaccumulation monitoring, (2) benthic macroinvertebrate community monitoring, and (3) fish community monitoring. The benthic macroinvertebrate community monitoring task includes studies to evaluate the receiving stream’s biological integrity annually in comparison with Tennessee Water Quality Criteria following Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) protocols. In addition to presenting the EFPC biological monitoring results, this report includes results from Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act–funded BMAP programs in Bear Creek and McCoy Branch (presented in Appendixes A and B, respectively), as required in the Y-12 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Additional biological testing at the Y-12 Complex includes toxicity testing of select storm drains as required in the NPDES permit. Although toxicity testing is not formally part of the BMAP, toxicity testing results from 2024 are provided in Appendix C.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

TEAMER – Field Demonstration of MarineSitu’s Marine Energy Monitoring (Abstract)

In order to effectively monitor for marine life around marine energy devices and thus minimize the risk of collision, multiple sensors working in coordination and augmented with around-the-clock automated monitoring algorithms need to be installed in challenging high-energy tidal and wave environments. Such systems are often too expensive for widespread adoption, or lack sufficient sensors or smarts to enable around-the-clock, real-time monitoring without human involvement. MarineSitu has been working to tackle this problem by developing a low-cost, combined sonar and stereo camera sensor array with connected real-time AI-based algorithms for automatically detecting marine life in these marine energy suitable environments. In this TEAMER project with Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), MarineSitu will be testing this novel sensor system for the first time in the high-energy tidal channel environment at PNNL’s Marine and Coastal Research Lab. Throughout this deployment, MarineSitu will be monitoring their system and running analytics on the sensor’s data in real-time. Meanwhile, PNNL Data Scientists and Ocean Engineers, will be evaluating the system’s effectiveness and ease of use both as a tool for plug-and-play environmental monitoring and novel environmental monitoring research. In doing so, the team will improve MarineSitu’s system and software, produce insightful data products, and develop novel visualizations and AI algorithms for combining and analyzing the data produced by systems like MarineSitu’s.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2026

Measurement Adequacy for Monitoring Data Center Oscillations

Artificial intelligence (AI) training data centers with periodic load profiles can induce sustained grid oscillations across a wide frequency range, making accurate monitoring essential for reliable power system operation. This report evaluates the adequacy of existing measurement systems for monitoring such oscillations, focusing on phasor measurement units (PMUs) and point-on-wave (POW) measurement systems. The analysis shows that while PMUs are highly effective for monitoring low-frequency electromechanical oscillations, they have inherent limitations in accurately representing higher-frequency oscillations due to constraints imposed by reporting rates and the bandwidth of phasor estimation filters. Even when configured with higher reporting rates, the filtering inherent in the phasor estimation process can significantly attenuate oscillation magnitudes, potentially leading to underestimation of oscillatory behavior. This has important implications for compliance and performance monitoring of large loads. To address the limitations associated with PMU-based monitoring, the report examines the use of high-resolution POW measurements, which can capture oscillations across a broader frequency range. However, continuous POW monitoring introduces practical challenges related to large data volumes, communication bandwidth, and real-time data processing. For this reason, the report also discusses emerging approaches that use POW measurements as a complementary capability alongside PMUs to improve observability of oscillations from large data center loads.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Automatic Calibration and Health Monitoring of Infrastructure Sensors

Smart transportation infrastructure relies on networks of heterogeneous sensors - cameras, radars, and lidars - continuously monitoring traffic conditions. However, executing the initial spatial calibration of multiple sensors and the subsequent health monitoring presents significant operational challenges. Environmental factors, mechanical vibrations, and gradual drift cause spatial misalignment, degrading fusion performance and tracking accuracy. Traditional calibration approaches require manual intervention with specialized targets or survey equipment, resulting in service interruptions and high maintenance costs. This work presents an automated framework for initial calibration and continuous health monitoring without human intervention or service disruption. Our approach addresses two critical problems: (1) detecting when sensors become miscalibrated during operation, and (2) automatically re-establishing spatial alignment using only operational traffic data. The health monitoring component analyzes measurement innovations - differences between sensor observations and predicted object states - to detect systematic biases indicative of calibration drift. By computing bias magnitude, directional consistency, and rejection rates, the system identifies miscalibrations as small as 0.5 meters. Unlike traditional methods requiring known calibration targets, our diagnostic operates continuously on live traffic observations, enabling early detection before fusion quality degrades. The automatic recalibration algorithm leverages overlapping sensor fields-of-view and temporal correlation of vehicle observations. Using graph-based optimization, the system automatically discovers which sensor pairs observe common regions, estimates pairwise spatial transformations using RANSAC-based robust estimation, and jointly optimizes all sensor poses through bundle adjustment. The framework handles practical deployment challenges, including different sensor sampling rates (1-10 Hz), varying installation positions, unknown orientations, and limited overlap regions (>10%). When approximate sensor positions are available from installation surveys (+/-1m accuracy), the algorithm additionally estimates sensor orientations, refining both position and rotation to sub-meter and sub-degree accuracy. We validate the framework on multi-hour traffic datasets from six heterogeneous sensors with sampling rates ranging from 1 Hz to 10 Hz. Results demonstrate successful calibration even with sparse overlap (<20%) and automatic detection of miscalibrations exceeding 0.8 meters. This work enables a "deploy-and-forget" sensor infrastructure that maintains calibration autonomously, reducing maintenance costs while improving tracking accuracy. The techniques generalize beyond transportation to any multi-sensor monitoring application requiring robust spatial alignment, including smart cities, industrial monitoring, and surveillance systems.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

In situ Monitoring of Lanthanide Reactions with Oxide Species via Combined Absorption Spectroscopy and Electrochemical Methods

Molten salts for engineering scale applications of spent nuclear fuel pyrochemical processing will inevitably have some level of oxygen impurities which can form insoluble oxide and oxychloride species with fission products. This work demonstrates real-time concentration monitoring of two lanthanide (Ln3+) fission products, Nd3+ and Pr3+, and their reactions with oxygen (O2-) impurities to form insoluble products in LiCl-NaCl-KCl eutectic salt. Combined absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical testing were used to track lanthanide concentrations. O2- impurity levels were controlled by adding Li2O to lanthanide-salt solutions. After the introduction of O2- impurities, Ln3+ concentrations were monitored via time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. Concentrations of both Ln3+ species in solution decreased with time as insoluble products formed. The initial impurity concentration controlled whether insoluble products were predominantly oxychlorides or mixtures of oxychlorides and oxides. However, absorption spectroscopy is limited for weakly absorbing species, such as Pr3+, and under conditions of high impurity concentrations where solutions can be turbid. To circumvent this limitation, the concentrations of Pr3+ were monitored with square wave voltammetry (SWV). Reaction rates and extent of Pr3+ removal from solution as monitored by SWV agreed closely with results found from spectroscopic monitoring. This demonstrates that simultaneous electrochemical testing complements the capabilities of absorption spectroscopy to monitor reactions of fission products in molten salts.

absorption spectroscopy↗
DOE OSTI2025

In situ monitoring of lanthanide reactions with oxide species via combined absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical methods

Molten salts for engineering scale applications of spent nuclear fuel pyrochemical processing will inevitably have some level of oxygen impurities which can form various insoluble oxide and oxychloride species with uranium and fission products. This work demonstrates real-time concentration monitoring of two trivalent lanthanide (Ln3+) fission products, Nd3+ and Pr3+, and their reactions with oxygen (O2-) impurities to form insoluble products in LiCl-NaCl-KCl eutectic salt. A combination of high-temperature absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical testing were used to track lanthanide concentrations. O2- impurity levels were controlled in the range of 0.001 M to 0.5 M by adding Li2O to lanthanide-salt solutions. After the introduction of O2- impurities, Ln3+ concentrations were monitored via time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. Concentrations of both Ln3+ species in solution decreased with time as insoluble products formed. The initial impurity concentration controlled whether insoluble products were predominantly oxychlorides (LnOCl) or mixtures of oxychlorides and oxides (Ln2O3). However, absorption spectroscopy is limited for weakly absorbing species, such as Pr3+, and under conditions of high impurity concentrations where solutions can be turbid. To circumvent this limitation, the concentrations of Pr3+ were monitored with square wave voltammetry (SWV). Estimated reaction rates and extent of Pr3+ removal from solution as monitored by SWV agreed to within ~10% of the results found from absorption spectroscopy monitoring. This demonstrates that simultaneous electrochemical testing complements and expands the capabilities of absorption spectroscopy to monitor reactions of fission products in molten salts.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

In situ monitoring of lanthanide reactions with oxide species via combined absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical methods

Molten salts for engineering scale applications of spent nuclear fuel pyrochemical processing will inevitably have some level of oxygen impurities which can form insoluble oxide and oxychloride species with fission products. This work demonstrates real-time concentration monitoring of two lanthanide (Ln3+) fission products, Nd3+ and Pr3+, and their reactions with oxygen (O2-) impurities to form insoluble products in LiCl-NaCl-KCl eutectic salt. Combined absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical testing were used to track lanthanide concentrations. O2- impurity levels were controlled by adding Li2O to lanthanide-salt solutions. After the introduction of O2- impurities, Ln3+ concentrations were monitored via time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. Concentrations of both Ln3+ species in solution decreased with time as insoluble products formed. The initial impurity concentration controlled whether insoluble products were predominantly oxychlorides or mixtures of oxychlorides and oxides. However, absorption spectroscopy is limited for weakly absorbing species, such as Pr3+, and under conditions of high impurity concentrations where solutions can be turbid. To circumvent this limitation, the concentrations of Pr3+ were monitored with cyclic voltammetry (CV). Reaction rates and extent of Pr3+ removal from solution as monitored by CV agreed closely with results found from spectroscopic monitoring. This demonstrates that simultaneous electrochemical testing complements the capabilities of absorption spectroscopy to monitor reactions of fission products in molten salts.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Database Performance Monitoring for DUNE

This report presents the research, design, and implementation of improved PostgreSQL monitoring for DUNE Rucio database services using Checkmk. The project began with a request to improve dashboard visibility for database performance metrics, including connection usage, configured connection limits, lock activity, wait behavior, storage trends, query performance, and saturation alerts. The initial implementation focused on the dune_rucio_prod database on the rucio_prod PostgreSQL instance because connection saturation and lock contention are direct reliability risks for database-backed services. Existing Checkmk PostgreSQL monitoring was investigated, and several gaps were identified. Built-in connection monitoring did not clearly separate active, idle, idle-in-transaction, total, and usage-percent metrics, while the built-in lock monitoring simplified PostgreSQL lock modes into shared and exclusive categories. To address these gaps, two DSG-specific Checkmk local checks were created: one for connection-state monitoring and one for lock-state monitoring. These checks supplement the built-in PostgreSQL checks and provide additional performance data for dashboard graphs, service states, and alerts.

Bowers, Elliot [Cabrillo Coll.]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrated Methane Monitoring Platform Extension, Volume I: Final Technical Report

The IMMPE project, DE-FE0032284, was to enhance methane monitoring technologies and their applications across various natural gas asset classes. The scope included deploying advanced methane detection and monitoring technologies to identify and mitigate fugitive methane emissions, measuring emission rates, and assessing impacts. The findings included the successful mitigation of identified emissions and quantification of emission rates. A key outcome was the development of a comprehensive template and summary of recommendations for methane emissions monitoring, which is replicable for both upstream and downstream applications. Furthermore, the project emphasized the importance of education by providing training opportunities for technicians and regulators, thereby fostering awareness and promoting the adoption of cost-effective methane emissions monitoring and management techniques.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dashboard for Marine Energy Site Assessment and Monitoring

The marine energy (ME) industry presently relies upon fragmented site assessment solutions that require high resource expenditure for deployment at each site and do not leverage the wealth of readily available tools and information. A wave energy resource assessment dashboard, currently in development, will substantially improve siting, permitting, operations, and maintenance of ME projects by providing an integrated solution that is a one-stop-shop for a developer’s needs. The Site Energy Assessment and MOnitoring Dashboard (SEAMOD) will be of commercial interest to anyone seeking to deploy an ME project and is easily expandable to include tidal and wind energy site assessments. The integrated dashboard is being developed using state-of-the-art database and cloud computing methods and data-assimilative modeling tools that can be coupled with low-cost, rapidly deployable wave buoys and environmental sensing hardware. The combined software and hardware dashboard will reduce wave energy site characterization and wave climate monitoring costs by more than 60 percent and provide assessments that meet international industry standards. To realize a thriving global ME industry, the physical environment at a potential deployment site must be understood, not only for resource characterization, but also for optimization of device and power conversion performance. SEAMOD directly addresses these needs with a commercially marketable product. SEAMOD is a low-cost solution that provides comprehensive ME resource assessments, baseline environmental monitoring, and offshore characterizations required for successful ME development. The key technical objectives for Phase I were a series of software development goals, which when implemented with monitoring solutions, produced an initial proof-of-concept low-cost wave energy resources dashboard. In Phase II, the development of the prototype SEAMOD continued. The basic framework employed was the development of a revised dashboard and monitoring tool customized for ME applications by focusing on IEC site assessment and method requirements. Development was focused on the integration of full hindcast metocean products to provide hindcast resource characterization and environmental information. The final integrated dashboard provides a low-cost solution that delivers comprehensive, scalable, industry-standard energy resource assessments and offshore characterizations required for successful ME development. The integrated dashboard offers visibility of the most recent site modeling, measurements, and historical data. The application and integration of consensus-based standards for wave energy resource assessment, as determined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), are crucial for the impact and value of SEAMOD. SEAMOD includes monthly, seasonal, and yearly statistics, as well as the total 30-year record, offering temporal resolution of the IEC parameters to aid potential developers in determining the available wave energy resources in their area of interest.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2026

A call to standardize metrics for monitoring baleen whales near marine construction activities

Effective monitoring is necessary to protect marine mammal species during the construction of offshore infrastructure. The tools for detecting or monitoring marine mammals span traditional (e.g., visual observers, optical cameras), to newer (e.g., passive acoustic monitoring, infrared cameras, tags), and emerging (e.g., satellite imagery, environmental DNA, dimethyl sulfide concentration) technologies. Some are better suited for use during offshore development; however, peer-reviewed literature does not typically evaluate and report on the performance of these various technologies. We define a minimum set of metrics related to efficacy (i.e., confusion matrix, precision and recall, probability of missed mitigation), detection range (i.e., maximum and reliable detection range, spatial resolution), and data delivery (i.e., detection latency, system reliability, temporal resolution) that we recommend are needed to assess the utility of monitoring technologies for this purpose. Following a literature review of relevant studies, we highlight which publications reported these metrics and used multiple technologies to compare relative performance. We also emphasize the benefits of multi-modal approaches and recommend performance assessments through modeling or large-scale collaborative field testing. These metrics will standardize data collection, reporting, and analysis; promote consistent and comparable results; and foster collaboration among developers, regulatory agencies, and scientists. This may lead to the co-development of technology that achieves multiple goals, has greater application, and can answer research questions while collecting data to fulfill permitting requirements. These metrics may also inform decisions on what systems regulatory agencies might consider using and reduce monitoring costs, which is critical to support the marine sector's rapid growth alongside marine mammal conservation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗