Page 28: of Marine Technology Magazine (June 2020)

GPS, Gyro Compasses & MEMS

Image: Seaview Systems

Michigan tech DeployS

SeaView waVe

SenSor for challenging great lakeS

Monitoring lthough land-locked, the Great (NWS) reports its forecasts of over water

Figure 3: MTU Deploying Buoy

Lakes are no strangers to large winds, wave and storm surge are greatly with SVS-603 in the Straits of waves: the largest waves ever enhanced during the Great Lakes naviga-

Mackinac recorded approached 29 feet tion season when the buoys are in place (8.8m) in Lake Superior in and operational. During the harsh north-

A2017. The Great Lakes Ship- ern winters, all buoys are removed from wreck Museum conservatively estimates the Lakes to survive the thick freshwa- 6000 ships and 30,000 lives have been lost ter ice. Much of the wave statistics and on the Great Lakes since the 17th centu- water quality data such as temperature, ry. It is no wonder that accurate real-time dissolved oxygen and a host of other pa- wave data is crucial for the safety of com- rameters are measured by a network of mercial ships, recreational aquatic vehi- buoys that is maintained by a variety of cles, fshing boats and ferries throughout organizations, university laboratories, the Great Lakes. Also crucial is weather government agencies, local municipali- prediction and prediction of phenomenon ties, and private industries throughout the such as harmful algal blooms (HABs) In Great Lakes region.

addition, the National Weather Service June 2020 28

MTR