Page 101: of Marine News Magazine (September 2013)

curity grant and $325,000 from the nonpro? t port com- mission, an organization that supports the regions river transportation system. The event provided an opportu- nity for companies with technologies that could ? t into the Wireless Waterways framework, and also contribute to needs of the Port to demonstrate those technologies. SUR- VICE participated with its patented ARGUS platform, deployed on the RiverQuest Explorer, on Campbell Trans- portation and Consol Energy vessels, and on the Platypus unmanned surface vessel. ARGUS solutions were displayed on the Maritime Situational Awareness Portal (MSAP) and refreshed every two minutes based on incoming data, pro- viding real-time display of bathymetry updates through the wireless Portal. The solution sets, received from active vessels, truly represented a ? rst in the application of crowd source bathymetry and went right to the heart of its pur- pose: providing users with current information. PARTICIPANTS & PARTNERS Over time, many commercial, private and pleasure op- erators have participated in the ARGUS effort. Commer- cial ? rms such as McAllister towing, at least one Cruise Line operator (who did not want to be identi? ed), Riv- ercrest (classroom), Campbell Transportation, Consol En- ergy, and the Platypus unmanned surface vessel have all at one time or another had ARGUS equipment deployed on board. Beyond this, ARGUS has collaborated on one level or another with the port of Pittsburgh, NOAA, the Uni- versity of New Hampshire and many others. DOWNSTREAM APPLICATIONS Eventually, it is hoped that ARGUS will be a primary tool in helping to prioritize dredging areas, surveys and could also substitute for a dredging schedule that may not re? ect real needs. In a world where cruise lines increas- ingly go to places not considered mainstream ports that lack reliable soundings, the participation of local boaters in the ARGUS scheme could provide real commercial value in that regard. Yachts and others cruising on intercoastal waterways could bene? t immediately by using improved, community generated chart products at a fraction of the cost of current methods, and in places that havent been surveyed in decades. And the Wave WiFi, integrated into the ARGUS onboard units for data of? oad, provides mul- www.marinelink.com MN 101MN Sept2013 Layout 96-111.indd 1018/29/2013 4:41:28 PM