The OASIS initiative, spearheaded by Voyis, tackles the urgent demand for effective and economical monitoring solutions amid increasing pressures for sustainable management of ocean resources.
With the Canadian and UK governments actively working to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and strengthen environmental regulations, the urgency for innovative monitoring technologies has reached new heights.
Supported by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster through the UK collaborative Ocean Innovation Solutions program and in collaboration with Innovate UK,this project aims to transform marine environmental surveys by uniting experts in ocean technology from both nations.
The OASIS initiative seeks to overcome the drawbacks of traditional ocean monitoring techniques, which frequently depend on expensive crewed vessels and tethered remotely operated vehicles. By leveraging long-duration autonomous underwater vehicles and refined imaging sensors combined with automated data processing, the project aspires to lower costs, reduce environmental footprints, and improve the scalability of marine environmental assessments.
This initiative unites a distinguished consortium of partners, including Voyis, the University of Southampton, AutoNaut, and the National Oceanography Center (NOC). In collaboration with the University of Southampton, Voyis will enhance its imaging solutions by integrating onboard machine learning and remote survey capabilities. This state-of-the-art technology will be incorporated into the NOC’s Autosub autonomous underwater vehicle, facilitating remote over-the-horizon seafloor imaging surveys via the autonaut wave-powered unmanned surface vehicle (USV).
“Partnering with esteemed UK organizations marks a pivotal moment in our mission to improve the cost-efficiency of ocean monitoring through innovative optical technologies,” stated Chris Gilson, CEO of Voyis. “The OASIS initiative reflects our dedication to creating solutions that not only address the changing demands of the commercial sector but also promote the sustainability of our oceans.”
beyond its meaning for marine conservation, the OASIS initiative is poised to unlock ample commercial opportunities. Voyis intends to provide a variety of services and software solutions, including autonomous environmental surveys and data analysis, along with new software for data interpretation and remote awareness. These offerings will benefit not only marine researchers and environmental organizations but also sectors such as offshore wind, oil and gas, and marine construction, which are increasingly adopting remote survey methodologies.
The OASIS initiative exemplifies a collaborative approach to tackling the pressing challenges our oceans face today.By harnessing expertise from both Canada and the UK,Voyis and its partners are well-positioned to make significant advancements toward a more sustainable future for marine ecosystems.
