Oceans go digital
Our seas and oceans are essential to life and to a healthy ecosystem but remain a mystery to many people. While divers know much about the deep sea, most people do not have the energy, means or desire to explore its depths. A new high-tech system designed to unveil the seas' biodiversity and natural beauty in real time promises to overcome the lack of knowledge in the field and foster awareness to encourage more sustainable oceans. This was the mandate of the EU-funded project DIGITAL OCEAN(opens in new window) . The project envisioned the use of digital technologies to collect and digitise underwater data using smart robots in order to disseminate rich imagery and related multimedia on the web. Such 'virtual diving' would be supported by an informative video game and e-learning platform, engaging citizens in learning about the seas and oceans. To achieve its objectives, the project gathered nine partners from five European countries who combined their expertise and designed a system based on underwater robotics, virtual reality, e-learning and computer systems. It worked on designing a new autonomous submersible mobile device named Dolphyn that processes and feeds information to the Internet. This involved studying the commercial success of the Dolphyn system, as well as building and testing a prototype device. The project team also developed an exploitation plan and has secured an order from a marine reserve in France. In effect, the system enables anyone from anywhere and at any time to 'dive virtually' for a small fee, enjoying quality seascapes and high-quality information without diving or disturbing the environment. The technology could prove very useful for marine protected areas and reserves, as well as diving sites and historical heritage shipwrecks. Education, tourism and leisure will certainly benefit from such an enterprising endeavour if the system becomes mainstream.
