Environmental knowledge and operational effectiveness at the NATO Undersea Research Centre.

Abstract

One of the primary areas of research at the NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC) is environmental knowledge and operational effectiveness. The objective of this work is to provide environmental information in support of maritime operations from the planning stages through to real‐time decision making. Generically, this is accomplished by parametrizing the environment according to need and providing the best knowledge available for each parameter including uncertainty. In practice, the environment is measured using a variety of mobile and remote sensors, including AUVs, with the aim of improving high‐resolution models of the oceanographic environment. In turn, these models and measurements are used as input for operational planning and prediction tools. This talk will describe recent and upcoming experimental work at the NURC designed to test these concepts and their application to acoustic based planning and prediction tools. The goal is to demonstrate the use of these concepts to improve prediction capabilities for transmission loss and signal excess in an operational area.