Dual-Transmission Oceanographic Buoy : A Low-Cost Solution for Accessible Coastal Monitoring

The development of efficient and cost-effective instruments for marine monitoring is crucial for advancing the collection of oceanographic data. This paper introduces a novel, low-cost, multipurpose oceanographic drifter-buoy designed to provide reliable, high-resolution data acquisition in both coastal and offshore environments. Engineered to enhance marine observations while maintaining affordability, the drifter achieves an optimal balance between cost and functionality by utilizing readily available components.

The drifter features a spherical body equipped with a solar panel to recharge its battery pack, enabling sustainable and long-term operations. It incorporates water temperature and turbidity sensors, with data acquisition and processing managed by an ARM® Cortex®-M0+ microcontroller. Position tracking is achieved through GNSS technology, ensuring precise geolocation.

To ensure reliable communication, the drifter is equipped with dual systems: LoRa technology for nearshore data transmission via gateways and Globalstar satellite communication for offshore data transmission. Its modular design further allows the integration of additional sensors, supporting a wide range of applications.

The dual communication system guarantees uninterrupted data transmission to the server regardless of the drifter’s position. All acquired data will be visualized and made freely available for download via the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). Furthermore, these measurements will support environmental monitoring and the validation of numerical models to simulate coastal physical and biological processes at high spatial and temporal resolution.

With its dual communication system, solar-powered design, robust data acquisition capabilities, and cost-efficiency, this drifter-buoy represents a versatile, accessible, and sustainable tool for oceanographic monitoring and coastal observation systems.