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January 4, 2019The Technological Development Centre of Remote Acquisition and Data Processing Systems (SARTI UPC) has concluded its participation in FixO3 (Fixed point Open Ocean Observatory), a European project whose objectives are integration and standardisation of European ocean observatories and making these exceptional facilities accessible to society. The aim of the observatories is to provide multidisciplinary measurements of oceans, from the seabed to the interface between the ocean and the atmosphere.
During FixO3, SARTI UPC centralised demands for use of the OBSEA marine observatory (on the seabed off the coast of Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona province). Projects undertaken at OBSEA included corrosion studies, comparisons of current measuring instruments, and evaluations of acoustic communication systems., one notable project is Fishout which assessed new submarine image processing techniques for observing and analysing macrofauna.. Thus, manufacturers and designers could assess the behaviour of their equipment in the sea, under continuous, real-time supervision provided by OBSEA. Some of the results have been published in Nature. Nature.
The FixO3 project encompassed coordination activities to integrate and standardise processes and procedures. It provided support to access infrastructures, data services, and free products, and to undertake research initiatives that improve the capacity for multidisciplinary ocean observation.
FixO3 was coordinated by the National Oceanography Centre (United Kingdom) based on the results of other projects in the 7th Framework Programme (EuroSIRES, ESONET, and CARBOOCEAN). FixO3 involved the participation of 29 partners from academic institutions, research centres, and SMEs. It received funding of 7 million euros and lasted 4 years.
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