Design criteria for automated data acquisition systems in the marine environment

With the advent of satellite communications and microprocessor technology, the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) has successfully developed and deployed several different evolutionary classes of data acquisition systems for buoy and coastal applications. Emphasis has always been placed on reliability, maintainability, and low cost. This paper will explore the rationale used to develop the design criteria for both the hardware and software required for automated systems designed for long-term, unattended use in remote marine locations. Four basic areas will be addressed: (1) sensor systems, (2) data acquisition and control, (3) data communications, and (4) power systems. This paper will discuss the overall design criteria for these areas, the end-to-end system acceptance testing requirements, and the reliability and maintenance philosophy used to achieve NDBC´s goal of providing continuous, reliable, user data from the marine environment.