Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine 24-3 - 66

Internet of
Underwater
Things for NARW
Monitoring
When investigating the
current common approaches for NARW
monitoring, it is clear that
the tested technologies
lack communication capabilities for more efficient
monitoring. We advocate
that Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) has
tremendous potential for
i m p ro v i n g t h e p e r f o rmance of marine animal
detection and monitorFig. 2. Example of an IoUT infrastructure for detection and monitoring of NARWs.
ing and high potential to
be used for detection and
monitoring of NARWs and their habitat. Envisioned IoUT infrared cameras can be deactivated during high seas as
architectures will be composed of different surface and un- they will work poorly when experiencing bad conditions
derwater sensor nodes and instruments will be wirelessly and producing non-stabilized video feed. Thus, a distribinterconnected through multimodal communication (e.g., uted protocol can be used to notify the other instruments in
acoustic, optical, electromagnetic, and radio frequency). the area since the deactivated infrared camera is now lackThese interconnected nodes and instruments will moni- ing sensing coverage. Therefore, gliders can move to the
tor different variables of interest and generate multimedia uncovered area and monitor it for the presence of NARWs.
data at different sample rates (Fig. 2).
In another operating example, sensing devices and gliders
In this regard, the wireless communication capability in can reduce their duty-cycle aimed at saving energy when
IoUT architectures should be explored to improve the per- they are in an area that is currently being covered by an
formance of NARW detection and monitoring applications. infrared camera. Such efficient operation can also be coorFirst of all, the coordination of multi-instruments can be ex- dinated and done according to experienced environmental
plored for multimedia data collection aimed at improving conditions.
the autonomy of NARW detection and alert systems. For instance, passive acoustic communication can be used to detect Conclusion
the presence of NARWs and estimate their location. Hence, NARWs are at great risk of extinction and this fact has prodepending on the location, commands can be sent through moted several initiatives aimed at protecting and preserving
satellite or underwater communication to gliders aimed at de- this species. The proper detection, monitoring, and untermining a better location and trajectory from which to collect derstanding of these animals and their environment are
data. In addition, infrared cameras positioned in ships and fundamental for proposing efficient measurements and
boats in proximity can be activated and directed, upon the re- policies to protect them. This paper discussed different inception of commands from surface gliders acting as gateways, struments and sensing technologies that are currently in use
to stream video from the location in which the NARW were de- to detect and monitor NARWs. For each discussed technoltected by passive acoustic sensors. Finally, commands can also ogy, we shed light on the working principle and highlighted
be sent to drones and unmanned aerial vehicles located at sur- the advantages of each, as well as pointed out their main
face platforms, to fly to the area in which a NARW has been drawbacks. Furthermore, we discussed how the envisioned
detected, stream aerial footage, to identify the detected indi- Internet of Underwater Things can be explored to boost the
vidual, and collect genetic material through whale snot, for performance and improve the efficiency of autonomous
monitoring systems to detect and monitor NARWs and their
further analysis.
Furthermore, IoUT will provide efficient sensing devices environment.
management in NARW detection and monitoring applications. Overall, instruments and sensing devices will have References
limited energy supply and different performance under dif- [1] M. W. Brown et al., " Recovery strategy for the North Atlantic
right whale (eubalaena glacialis) in Atlantic Canadian waters
ferent environmental conditions. Thus, proper coordination
[proposed], " Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Fisheries
of the instruments through wireless communication can be
and Oceans Canada, 2008.
performed for efficient operation among them. For instance,
66

IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine

May 2021

Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine 24-3

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