Technical Tracks

Dr. Yu Luo | Mississippi State University

Dr. Steve Stanic | University of Southern Mississippi

1.1 Sonar and transducers

1.2 Calibration of acoustic systems and metrology

1.3 Sound propagation and scattering

1.4 Acoustical oceanography

1.5 Geoacoustic inversion

1.6 Bioacoustics

1.7 Seismo-acoustics

1.8 Ocean noise

1.9 Signal coherence and fluctuation

Dr. Darshan Bryner | Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division 

Dr. Ali Gurbuz | Mississippi State University 

2.1 Sonar signal processing

2.2 Array signal processing and array design

2.3 Model-based signal processing techniques

2.4 Vector sensor processing

2.5 Synthetic aperture (active and passive)

2.6 Classification and pattern recognition (parametric and non-parametric)

2.7 Sonar imaging

2.8 Acoustic telemetry and communication

2.9 Biologically inspired processing

Dr. Jason McKenna | University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Jeff Book | U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

3.1 Automatic control

3.2 Current measurement technology

3.3 Oceanographic instrumentation and sensors

3.4 Systems and observatories

3.5 Buoy technology

3.6 Cables and connectors

3.7 Marine geodetic information systems

Dr. Richard (Dick) Crout | U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Dr. Alexandria Grimes | Naval Oceanographic Office

4.1 Air / sea interaction

4.2 Lidar

4.3 Passive observing sensors

4.4 Coastal radars

4.5 Ocean color and hyperspectral measurements

4.6 Airborne and satellite radar and SAR

4.7 Operational observation

4.8 Sensor synergy

4.9 Space systems

Brandy Armstrong | University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Kemal Cambazoglu | University of Southern Mississippi

Richard Allard | U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Dr. Vishwa Sunkara | University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Gowri Shankar | University of Southern Mississippi

5.1 Access, custody, and retrieval of data

5.2 Data visualization

5.3 Numerical modeling and simulation

5.4 Marine GIS and data fusion

5.5 Information management

5.6 Data assimilation

5.7 Real-Time Data Quality Control

Dawn Petraitis | NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center

Philip Hoffman | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Dr. Jim Gharib | Fugro

Dr. Chelsea Pederson | University of Southern Mississippi

6.1 Oceanography: physical, geological, chemical, biological

6.2 Marine geology and geophysics

6.3 Hydrography / seafloor mapping / geodesy

6.4 Hydrodynamics

6.5 Marine life and ecosystems

6.6 Meteorology

6.7 Pollution monitoring

6.8 Mineral resources

Dr. Ryan Green | Mississippi State University

7.1 Imaging and vision

7.2 Beam propagation

7.3 Optical sensors and adaptive optics

7.4 Marine optics technology and instrumentation

7.5 Holography and 3D imaging

7.6 Optical communication

7.7 E-M sensing

Stephanie Showalter Otts, J.D. | University of Mississippi - National Sea Grant Law Center

Dr. Tina Miller-Way | Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium

8.1 Coastal zone management

8.2 Ocean economic potential

8.3 Marine law and policy

8.4 International issues

8.5 Marine safety and security

8.6 Law of the Sea and UNCLOS

8.7 Ocean resources

8.8 Marine education and outreach

8.9 Marine archaeology

9.1 Ocean energy

9.2 Ropes and tension members

9.3 Offshore structures

9.4 Marine materials science

9.5 Marine salvage

9.6 Diving

9.7 Pollution clean-up and pollution remediation

9.8 Deepwater development technology

9.9 Seafloor engineering

9.10 Ocean exploration

Brian Connon | Saildrone

Dr. Leonardo Macelloni | University of Southern Mississippi

10.1 Vehicle design

10.2 Vehicle navigation

10.3 Vehicle performance

10.4 Autonomous underwater vehicles

10.5 Manned underwater vehicles

10.6 Remotely operated vehicles

10.7 Dynamic positioning

10.8 Moorings, rigging, and anchors

10.9 Naval architecture

Karen Grissom | NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center

Dr. Lea Locke-Wynn | Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command

The increasing need for a systematic and persistent understanding of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system is a critical component to many defense, government, academic, and private sector programs. Innovation over a broad cross-section of the sciences (marine science, computer science, human systems engineering, etc.) is essential for furthering the ability to rapidly interpret the Earth system environment, convey complex concepts plainly, and disseminate information to end-users.

This track focuses on advances in the five key components of operational oceanography:

• Observation networks (in-situ and remote sensing, observing system design, best practices in maintaining an operational system, etc.)
• Data management and monitoring (data formats and access methods, quality control mechanisms, etc.)
• Prediction and assessment (numerical models and data assimilation systems, forecast verification, etc.)
• Delivery and dissemination (data visualization and products, communication of measurement uncertainty, etc.)
• Customer usage and decision-making influence (public-private sector engagement, approaches for addressing requirements gaps and data scarcity, observing system value mapping, etc.)

Dr. Eric Sparks | Mississippi State University Extension and Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium

Jessi A. James | Mississippi State University Extension

Citizen, participatory, community, or backyard science (hereinafter referred to as citizen science) has evolved from just a means to connect local communities to scientific research, to citizen scientist collected data being actively used in a wide range of research efforts.

• Traditional field-based citizen science projects are popular among volunteers, but technological advances have made it easier than ever for citizen scientists to participate in a variety of activities throughout the world.
• In this session, we will explore the variety and utility of citizen science projects that can inform coastal and ocean management.

Dr. Anna Linhoss | Auburn University 

Dr. Sathish Samiappan | Mississippi State University

This session will focus on major Gulf of Mexico Initiatives describing how they impact the ecology and economy of the largest Gulf in the world.

Ecosystems

• Rivers
• Beaches, wetlands, coral reefs
• Estuaries
• Escarpments
• Deeper water zones

Industries

• Oil and gas
• Fishing
• Tourism
• Shipping

Threats

• Climate change and sea-level rise
• Storms and hurricanes
• Over fishing
• Oil spills
• Pollution

Jennifer Bowers | NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information

Jonathan Harris | Mississippi State University

From enhanced data collection capabilities to parallel processing, advances in Information Technologies (IT) have significantly improved our understanding of Earth’s dynamic environment. IT has a broad reach from Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to Cloud Computing and Machine Learning. In this session, we share how innovation in IT has improved our understanding of the ocean.

This track focuses on advances in the key components of IT enabled oceanography

• Sensor communication
• Edge computing enabled technologies
• Cloud computing and modern data management
• Big Data (information overload, data assimilation, etc.)
• Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
• Knowledge Products (advanced visualizations)
• Advancing the new Blue Tech Economy
• Technical Workforce Development

Dr. Stephanie Herring | NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information

Ayesha Genz | NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information

The world’s oceans and coastal areas are being disproportionately impacted by anthropogenic climate change. These impacts include rising ocean temperature, ocean acidification and deoxygenation that lead to changes in ocean chemistry. Changes in these environmental variables have direct ecosystem impacts that include altering the diversity, abundance, and geographic distribution of marine species. There are also impacts to coastal areas through rising sea levels, coastal flooding and inundation that have profound socioeconomic impacts. An understanding of the climate change impacts on coasts and oceans is critical to the future management, conservation and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems.

This track focuses on advances in the 5 key components of climate change:

• Observed and projected changes of oceanographic data in a warming world
• Oceanic and coastal impacts (ocean temperature, ocean chemistry, sea level rise, coastal flooding and inundation, etc.)
• Socioeconomic impacts (infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, food, energy, etc.)
• Marine ecosystem impacts (alterations to marine species including diversity, abundance, geographic distribution, etc.)
• Pathways to resilience (approaches to mitigate the impacts listed above)

Dr. Reginald Blaylock | University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Dan Petrolia | Mississippi State University

Aquaculture is the fastest growing segment of food production, averaging about 6% growth per year over the last decade. Over 50% of fisheries products now come from aquaculture and, due to the inability of capture fisheries to meet demand, aquaculture is the only viable alternative for meeting the demands of a growing human population. The United States has a long history of participation in the fisheries and maritime economy, but the U.S. imports about 90% of its seafood and contributes little to aquaculture production. Moreover, while Americans prefer to consume species of marine origin, marine aquaculture production significantly lags that of freshwater aquaculture. In particular, the development of marine aquaculture in the US lags for a variety of reasons including:

• The need for complex systems and materials engineering
• A lack of appropriate culture models for desirable species
• Cost of production
• Environmental impacts of escaped animals and farm effluent
• The complex and time-consuming regulatory process

This session will explore the technological, economic, market, and policy constraints and opportunities for developing a sustainable domestic marine aquaculture industry.  The goal of the track is to identify ways to optimize U.S. participation in the global Blue Economy.

Jennifer Jencks | NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information

Dr. Vicki Ferrini | Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Brian Connon | Saildrone

Rafael Ponce | ESRI

Establishing truly coordinated movements for the global common good is one of the greatest legacies we can proudly pass on to the next generation.

The National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (NOMEC Strategy) is an ambitious multi-decadal plan that will be a key tool in implementing the US vision for ocean science and technology. The Nippon Foundation - GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is an international collaboration aspiring to map the global ocean by 2030. Both initiatives aim to bring together bathymetric data to produce definitive maps of the ocean floor that are publicly available for multiple uses. With only ~23% of the world ocean's seafloor mapped in the publicly available GEBCO grid, and 48% of U.S. waters mapped, coordination and data sharing will be key to achieving the ambitious goal of revealing the details of the seafloor. For example, bathymetric data coverage in the Gulf of Mexico region would nearly double if all known existing bathymetry data were made available.

The time has come for all of us – governments, international organizations, universities, non-governmental organizations, maritime industries (fishing boats, survey companies, shipping lines, oil and gas companies, cruise operators, submarine cable companies), and citizens - to support these mapping initiatives by:

• Consolidating and sharing pre-existing data
• Leveraging existing and emerging technologies to collect and disseminate bathymetric data
• Planning cruises to previously unmapped regions
• Helping to building a strong global community united in purpose

Dr. Brian McKeon | HII – Mission Technologies

Philip Hoffman | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Uncrewed and automated ships are becoming more prevalent across the maritime domain. This trend creates great opportunities for ship builders, technology providers, educational facilities and maritime operators. However, uncrewed and automated ships represent also significant challenges, particularly for regulators.

This track will explore the following focus areas:

• Applications, successes and lessons learned in uncrewed and autonomous ship design, development, production, regulation, and use
• Navigation and COLREGS implications for maritime autonomy
• The reduction of manpower on crewed and optionally crewed ships as result of autonomy
• Implementation of Best Practices on remote observing of unscrewed vessels

Allison Chimenya | Port of Gulfport  

Michael Sawyer (CIV) | U.S. Coast Guard

With increased traffic and cargo moving through ports each day, ports are particularly vulnerable to threats, creating the need for a wide range of security tools from cybersecurity to physical security to defend and reduce the impact of potential threats to port operations. This track will examine key security and logistic measures involved in maintaining a safe environment for the expedient and secure operations of our nation's ports.

The Goal

• Highlight emerging technologies within the maritime and port security industry including
  • Cybersecurity
  • Uncrewed Systems Protection
  • Physical Security
    • Land
    • Sea
    • Air
    • Underwater

Dr. Ruth Perry | Shell

Tom Wissing | Naval Oceanographic Office

Dr. Jorge Brenner | Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS)

Offshore renewable energy is steadily expanding in state and federal waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico. The growth of renewable resource development requires environmental knowledge, resource-intense planning, and well-curated operations and maintenance of offshore and coastal, land-based systems. This track will support discussion that ranges from environmental characterization to future design, deployment, and operation plans for offshore renewable energy systems, how the offshore renewable energy industry will be advanced, and how it can be supported by both private and public ventures.