Proposals 2008-2009

• Self-Locating Data Marker Buoy w/Iridium Satellite Telemetry
• Casualty Tracking System for Multiple Casualty Incidents
• Harbour Emergency Group Exercise Program
• SAR Surface Current Monitoring Network
• Development and Validation of Improved Ocean Drift Theory
• CCGA SAR Handbook
• Probability of Detection (POD) Validation of Leeway and Drift
• Marine Marker for Common SAR Objects
• East Coast Forecast System
• SAR Exercise Program for Major Marine & Aviation Disasters

Self-Locating Data Marker Buoy w/Iridium Satellite Telemetry

Develop an Iridium Based Self Locating Data Marker Buoy in reduced size (smaller than or equal to “A” size) package designed for vessel and air deployment. This design will incorporate IRIDIUM short burst data telemetry capability; developed to meet or exceed the reliability of the current ARGOS based design while improving upon the manufacturing cost.

Casualty Tracking System for Multiple Casualty Incidents

Develop a system (CASTRACK) to track and account for all casualties involved in major marine incidents, in particular an incident involving a large passenger carrying vessel. This tracking system must be readily and consistently deployable at a variety of scenes. CASTRACK will be deployed to all CCG units, with potential for adoption by other response agencies.

Harbour Emergency Group Exercise Program

Strengthen the inter-agency response to major SAR incidents by developing self-sustaining, multi-jurisdictional exercise groups in each of the four key communities on the BC coast. The organizational model and progression of exercises will be modelled after the successful Victoria Harbour Emergency Group.

SAR Surface Current Monitoring Network

The purpose of this project is to have DFO/CCG partner with the DND and the University of Maine to lead the installation and integration of a network of CODAR SeaSondes in the high current and SAR activity area of Southwest Nova Scotia. Once the network has been installed and initialized, CF MetOc Halifax will assume ownership, operation and maintenance of the network. The long-term life-cycle management and maintenance of this system will become the responsibility of CF MetOc.

Development and Validation of Improved Ocean Drift Theory

This proposal will address the prediction of drift and search area calculations currently undertaken by CCG and explore and recommend improvements in the form of a manuscript for submission to Coast Guard and the International Maritime Organisation. The theoretical development and validation work will be complemented by a short field trial.

CCGA SAR Handbook

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary would like to develop and implement a SAR enhancement program that would improve the safety and security of SAR responders, new and old. Using the UK-based The RNLI Handbook as a starting point, the CCGA would like to develop a Canadian version for distribution to all CCGA members, along with a companion CD-ROM.

Probability of Detection (POD) Validation of Leeway and Drift

The primary goal of the project is to collect SAR detection data to determine the Probability of Detection (POD) and subsequent sweep width for 4- and 7-person Ovatek life rafts using a typical all weather SAR vessel.  The secondary goal is to validate leeway and drift models determined for these targets during the NIF sponsored project, Investigation of Leeway and Drift for Ovatek Life Rafts conducted in FY 2004-05 - 2005/06. 

Marine Marker for Common SAR Objects

C-Core to find a multi-application marine marker for CCG, SAR resources that is easily deployable, reliable, cost effective, and have the ability to survive in the harshest marine enviornments.  To improve search operations, saving valuable search time.

East Coast Forecast System

This proposal seeks funding from the NIF program to assist to develop a forecasting system for East Coast/part of the Eastern Arctic surface currents model and transfer the data to CCG for ingestion into CANSARP.  

In search and rescue operations, the search area is determined from the best available information at the time of incident.  At the present, we have 3 East Coast models that overlap in some areas and have gaps in other areas.  Search coordinators must make decisions on what model data to use and be aware of model gaps to ensure the best information is used in the search plan.  During a search operation, it is not the time to evaluate and decide which model to use.  The combined East Coast Forecast model will remove the overlaps and gaps and also extend the surface current model to cover an area in the Eastern Arctic around Baffin Bay where we do not have any surface data to assist us.  Real-time data from surface drifters can provide the most critical information required for CANSARP.  But drifter data have limited spatial and temporal coverage: drifters such as SLDMB’s are deployed by aircraft or ships tasked to a SAR operations and in the search area for the operation.  To initially predict a search area for the operation, the controller must rely on models of surface currents to determine where to send units to search.  Once in the search area, the use of SLDMB’s will increase the accuracy of where the units should search.  This is best strategy for predicting surface currents over a large area is to use real-time data (SLDMB’s) in conjunction with model predictions.  

Over the past ten years, scientists at IML, BIO and Dalhousie University have developed ocean circulation models for the Grand Banks, Scotian Shelf and Gulf of St. Lawrence.  Built on the past experience, a large-domain forecast model covering the entire eastern Canadian seaboard with advanced features and more reliable results will be developed in this project.  The model will be calibrated and validated against data from surface drifters deployed by the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard College. A forecasting system based on the architecture of an existing system that combines the operations of data transfer, model execution, graphic display and data delivery will be developed. 

This proposal will integrate three East Coast models with an extension to cover areas not included in the existing models.  The computer generated surface currents will be transferred to CCG and ingested into CANSARP for operational use.  The work described in the proposal is closely linked to DFO/Science’s efforts in operational oceanography with the aim to provide information to operational agencies and contribute to the departmental mandate of safe and accessible waterways.  A recently formed DFO working group on regional ocean modeling strongly endorses a seamless solution for short and medium time scale forecasting on Canadian shelf waters.  Two PERD projects have provided funding for research directly related to the objectives of this proposal - investigation of wave effects on surface currents and construction of a numerical grid for a large-domain ocean model. 

SAR Exercise Program for Major Marine and Aviation Disasters

CCG–Quebec to prepare and plan tabletop and live exercises in the Quebec region to raise awareness among the various organizations, passenger ship operators and airport authorities near the St. Lawrence of the potential impact of disasters involving a large number of passengers and to strengthen responder collaboration for actual emergencies.