SmartBay Ireland manages Ireland’s National Marine Research, Test and Demonstration facility in Galway Bay which has been developed to support the demonstration and validation of new technologies (e.g. ¼ scale WEC’s) within the Ocean energy and related sectors.

The SmartBay infrastructure consists of a suite of commercially available technology platforms including a network of buoys, sensor hardware and data communication systems.

The SmartBay technical team can provide innovative Marine Support and ICT solutions to support users of the infrastructure.  Within Galway Bay, ocean energy developers can utilise SmartBay infrastructure and marine support services to validate prototype devices and collect data during deployments.

SmartBay Ireland is keen to collaborate with researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, to develop R&D projects and proposals.  Partners can use both SmartBay’s physical and cyber environment to collect data and to develop, test and demonstrate new solutions for marine and related sectors.

The Marine Institute, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC) and SmartBay Ireland have sourced funding through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to install 4.5km of subsea cable to the test and demonstration site. The test and demonstration site will be located at the SEAI ocean energy test site situated in Galway Bay. SmartBay Ireland will manage the facility, which will include an undersea research node with 400v power and high speed data communications via 10 pairs of optical fibres. The node will host a complement of client sensors which can be tested and demonstrated in near real-time. A power buoy will also be installed at the site which will provide power to and dissipate power from prototype wave energy converters (WECs).

SmartBay Ireland as an SME is looking to collaborate in Horizon 2020 through any marine based or marine section of a call from ICT, software development to marine trial and demonstration. We are keen to talk to potential partners to explore research opportunities from a H2020 perspective.

SmartBay Ireland – Facilities

Galway Bay (¼ Scale) Test Site

The test site is located approximately 4.5km’s East of Spiddal; approximately 1.5km’s offshore with a water depth of 23m. The Galway Bay ¼ scale test site is an ideal base as it provides excellent oceanic wave regime, sheltered harbour facilities and the renewable, maritime and environmental expertise that exists within the area.

The ¼ scale test site allows smaller scale devices, or those at an earlier stage in their development, to gain sea experience in less challenging conditions than those experienced at full-scale wave test sites.

Sub-sea Cabled Observatory

A sub-sea cable is currently being installed at Galway Bay’s ¼ scale test-site. Facilities include:

•    4.5km of fibre optic data and 400v power cable
•    High speed communications via 10pairs of optical fibres
•    2 undersea research nodes
•    Sub-sea cabled sensor platform (hosting of variety of sensors and equipment which can be tested and demonstrated in near real-time)

The cabled observatory will include a range of sensors and equipment including:

•     CTD
•     ADCP
•     Hydrophone
•     HDTV
•     Still’s Camera
•     Camera Lights
•     Nutrient Monitoring
•     Dissolved O₂ & CO₂   
•     Flurometer     
•     Turbidity
•     Down welling Irradiance
•     pH Sensor
•     Echo sounder(s)
•     Expansion ports for the testing of novel sensors

A power buoy will be installed at the site which will provide power to and dissipate power from prototype wave energy converters. This platform is expected to be operational by late 2014.

Buoy Network

SmartBay operates a fleet of Mobilis DB5800 buoys used for testing a range of environmental and meteorological sensors. The data generated by these sensors is transferred back to SmartBay headquarters and onto users globally through the SmartBay online portal.

• SmartBay Mobilis DB5800 buoys can host a variety of communications protocols including; GPRS, Satellite, VHF, Wimax, GSM, 3G, Wi-Fi
• High performance / low power data acquisition and transmission system
• Large power capacity for multiple sensors
• Interchangeable components allowing easy integration of test sensors and equipment
• Spare capacity (RS232) for additional instruments via a generic connector
• Robust construction (high stability in operation. Single, bridle, or multipoint moorings through the hull compartment)

SmartBay’s Data Delivery Portal

We provide a real-time data solution for transmitting, collecting, parsing and storing data, which is then made available to our clients via our web portal. SmartBay’s custom built portal offers:

• Sensor data collection from NMEA and non-NMEA sensors
• Tailored data acquisition timing intervals
• Customised data pre-processing, validation and parsing
• Data brokering, storage, and processing services
• Collection and access to raw and parsed data
• Access to both historical and real-time data
• Access to data in a variety of formats e.g. csv, json, kml
• Integration of federated data sets

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SmartBay Ireland – Services

Our core multidisciplinary team has been purposely selected to provide users of SmartBay with the scientific, technological, ICT and business development support necessary in building and scaling businesses and developing technologies in the Ocean Energy, Shipping & Security, Environmental Monitoring, Sub-sea Sensors & Equipment, Aquaculture and R&D sectors.

The team is comprised of advanced scientists, engineers and software developers, supported by experienced marketing and business development professionals with extensive industry knowledge.  This combination of skills allows SmartBay to offer its users an end to end service from initial product conception to commercialisation.

Marine Services

• Health, Safety and Environmental Management
• Day-to-day Marine Operational Support
• Project Management
• Vessel Support
• Specialist Technical and Engineering Support
• Electronics and Electrical Support
• Dive Support
• Device Validation
• Design, Development and Testing
• Commercial Support
• Integration, Testing and Verification