NA24OARX021G0038
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Purpose: Technical abstract visibility is a critical factor in maritime operations, impacted by various atmospheric conditions such as fog, heavy drizzle, large waves and spray under strong wind conditions, and other obstructions.
Operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) models traditionally consider temperature, moisture, and aerosol concentrations (if available), and may struggle to accurately forecast visibility.
Reduced visibility conditions impact maritime operations via decreased speed and safety in movement of commercial fleets, and increased costs through poor fuel load planning, longer transits, and restrictions of harbor operations.
Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS) proposes advanced visibility forecast method by incorporating additional environmental fields and leveraging machine learning techniques for improved accuracy.
Phase II will continue the development of our visibility risk assessment tool, which utilizes ensemble forecasts of environmental variables alongside enhanced visibility conditions and risk assessment codes.
A shipping economics model will be expanded to explore, quantify, and communicate the impacts of reduced visibility on maritime operations.
The products from this R&D will include discretized spatial risk maps accessible via a cloud-based API and a user-friendly web interface.
These tools will provide valuable insights for more informed planning, decision-making, and navigation.
Summary of the anticipated results and implications of the approach and the potential commercial applications of the research.
The commercial market for a reduced visibility risk assessment tool for maritime operations covers everything from recreational boaters to the cruise line industry to large commercial shipping companies.
For example, reduced visibility in the Gulf of Mexico costs the cruise line industry millions of dollars annually; across maritime industries, poor visibility conditions cause delays and losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Improved visibility forecasts created during these efforts and incorporated into our risk assessment frameworks will aid in routing, fuel loading, and safety planning.
Resultant risk assessment data will be accessible in multiple formats for customers to purchase to view and/or integrate into their platforms.
Risk assessment data will be licensed through a front-end agnostic cloud-based API and web-based risk maps will be available via a subscription service.
The combination of regularly updating maps and streaming data will make this risk assessment tool available to the broadest audience and have the largest impact on increasing maritime safety and commerce.
Operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) models traditionally consider temperature, moisture, and aerosol concentrations (if available), and may struggle to accurately forecast visibility.
Reduced visibility conditions impact maritime operations via decreased speed and safety in movement of commercial fleets, and increased costs through poor fuel load planning, longer transits, and restrictions of harbor operations.
Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS) proposes advanced visibility forecast method by incorporating additional environmental fields and leveraging machine learning techniques for improved accuracy.
Phase II will continue the development of our visibility risk assessment tool, which utilizes ensemble forecasts of environmental variables alongside enhanced visibility conditions and risk assessment codes.
A shipping economics model will be expanded to explore, quantify, and communicate the impacts of reduced visibility on maritime operations.
The products from this R&D will include discretized spatial risk maps accessible via a cloud-based API and a user-friendly web interface.
These tools will provide valuable insights for more informed planning, decision-making, and navigation.
Summary of the anticipated results and implications of the approach and the potential commercial applications of the research.
The commercial market for a reduced visibility risk assessment tool for maritime operations covers everything from recreational boaters to the cruise line industry to large commercial shipping companies.
For example, reduced visibility in the Gulf of Mexico costs the cruise line industry millions of dollars annually; across maritime industries, poor visibility conditions cause delays and losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Improved visibility forecasts created during these efforts and incorporated into our risk assessment frameworks will aid in routing, fuel loading, and safety planning.
Resultant risk assessment data will be accessible in multiple formats for customers to purchase to view and/or integrate into their platforms.
Risk assessment data will be licensed through a front-end agnostic cloud-based API and web-based risk maps will be available via a subscription service.
The combination of regularly updating maps and streaming data will make this risk assessment tool available to the broadest audience and have the largest impact on increasing maritime safety and commerce.
Awardee
Funding Goals
18 CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION 19 WEATHER-READY NATION 20 HEALTHY OCEANS 21 RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Fairfax Station,
Virginia
220391409
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Applied Ocean Sciences was awarded
Project Grant NA24OARX021G0038
worth $650,000
from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Fairfax Station Virginia United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 11.021 NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity FY24 NOAA SBIR Phase II.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase II
Title
A Visibility Risk Assessment Tool for Maritime Operations
Abstract
Visibility is a critical factor in maritime operations, impacted by various atmospheric conditions such as fog, heavy drizzle, large waves and spray under strong wind conditions, and other obstructions. Operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) models traditionally consider temperature, moisture, and aerosol concentrations (if available), and may struggle to accurately forecast visibility. Reduced visibility conditions impact maritime operations via decreased speed and safety in movement of commercial fleets, and increased costs through poor fuel load planning, longer transits, and restrictions of harbor operations. Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS) proposes advanced visibility forecast methods by incorporating additional environmental fields and leveraging machine learning techniques for improved accuracy. Phase II will continue the development of our visibility risk assessment tool, which utilizes ensemble forecasts of environmental variables alongside enhanced visibility conditions and risk assessment codes. A shipping economics model will be expanded to explore, quantify, and communicate the impacts of reduced visibility on maritime operations. The products from this R&D will include discretized spatial risk maps accessible via a cloud-based API and a user-friendly web interface. These tools will provide valuable insights for more informed planning, decision-making, and navigation.
The commercial market for a reduced visibility risk assessment tool for maritime operations covers everything from recreational boaters to the cruise line industry to large commercial shipping companies. For example, reduced visibility in the Gulf of Mexico costs the cruise line industry millions of dollars annually; across maritime industries, poor visibility conditions cause delays and losses of hundreds of millions of dollars. Improved visibility forecasts created during these efforts and incorporated into our risk assessment frameworks will aid in routing, fuel loading, and safety planning. Resultant risk assessment data will be accessible in multiple formats for customers to purchase to view and/or integrate into their platforms. Risk assessment data will be licensed through a front-end agnostic cloud-based API and web-based risk maps will be available via a subscription service. The combination of regularly updating maps and streaming data will make this risk assessment tool available to the broadest audience and have the largest impact on increasing maritime safety and commerce
Topic Code
9.3
Solicitation Number
NOAA-OAR-TPO-2024-2008239
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 3/5/25
Period of Performance
9/1/24
Start Date
8/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$650.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$650.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to NA24OARX021G0038
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
NA24OARX021G0038
SAI Number
NA24OARX021G0038-002
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
1305N2 DEPT OF COMMERCE NOAA
Funding Office
1333BR OFC OF PROG.PLANNING&INTEGRATION
Awardee UEI
N2W3KSDKYR79
Awardee CAGE
885E5
Performance District
VA-11
Senators
Mark Warner
Timothy Kaine
Timothy Kaine
Modified: 3/5/25