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marine science safety and environmental protection student holding a fish

Oceanographic Data Portal (ODATA)

Aquaculture and Marine Sciences Laboratory


The Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) Oceanographic Data Portal (ODATA) provides unique marine academic data to the public, with the intent to inspire and educate.   The academy has several marine research projects, hydrokinetic energy (e.g. tidal flow) systems and aquaculture programs, generating precise oceanographic data.  Additionally, a live camera broadcasts real time seabed activity from 20 feet under water in high definition video.   This visual portal is a real time view of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at work. 

Aquaculture & Marine Sciences Laboratory

The Aquaculture & Marine Sciences Laboratory at MMA is a combination of field lab, aquaculture farm, research experiments and long-term environmental monitoring.  Dozens of federal, state, municipal and academic research projects are simultaneously proceeding out of this science center.  Faculty and students support all of these initiatives.


Navigation Computer

A SIMRAD® NSS Evo-3 navigation computer is interfaced with a hydroacoustic transducer on the camera frame (recording horizontally to identify fish).   The location in Latitude and Longitude, distance to nearest structure, time, temperature and system voltage are displayed similar to the navigation display while a vessel is underway.

 

 

 

 

Underwater Web Cam

Tide Gauge

It is important to know the normal tidal heights to aid in predicting flood levels with stormwater run-up.  MMA has installed a tidal height monitor technology developed by Hohonu of Hawaii.  The actual tidal levels are influenced by wind and the physical configuration of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy waterfront pier location.  This solar powered cutting edge technology plots the recorded tidal height (close spaced blue dots) against the predicted tidal height (blue dashes).  The prediction is from the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge NOAA tidal station, 1000 meters northeast of the MMA pier.  Both the distance and physical basin configuration produces differing graphs results in certain tidal events.