Scientific

The Marimsys BRIDGE system collects and geopositions data from shipboard instruments.  Incoming data is generally in the NMEA 0183, marine format, and includes data from normal shipboard instruments such as latitude and longitude, time, date, depth, wind direction and speed, temperature at surface and trawl.   Other protocols, particular to scientific instruments, can be programmed into the system on an as-needed basis. Data is collected in an open Microsoft Access database where it is available for analysis.

System positioning and depth data is used by Marine Imaging systems to make charts.  These charts, when created with GPS have an approximate horizontal tolerance of < 30 meters, and +/- 1% of depth, contour lines can range down to sub-meter.   If created with DGPS the horizontal error will be in the range of 5 meters, the vertical error is unaffected. 

For pelagic experiments, these charts serve to show the backdrop for where the samples were taken.  In the case of benthic work, the charts may very well demonstrate what are the key habitat, chemical or geological variables of the experiment.  The fine detailing of sub-metric charts will display much about the characteristics of the sea floor which is relevant to biologic activity such as: surface relief, lee of current, exposed to current, area of sediment accretion.  For example, many benthic inhabitants are known for their "spotty" distribution.  Differing experimental values for samples taken at different points, superimposed against a detailed micro-bathymetric chart of the bottom may well reveal key differences in experimental data.  For instance different experimental results may be explained by the presence of mini-upwellings, or current blockages caused by bottom morphology.   Likewise, when the key habitat variables are isolated, it is often possible to map the area and extent of those variables such as:  zones of precipitation of fines caused by mini-upwellings, rocky ledges or other habitat areas.

Whether for a pelagic, benthic or mixed group of experiments, typically there will be a series of waypoints created representing the different experiments.  A waypoint "group" as defined in the relational MS Access database, which is the core of Marimsys BRIDGE will correspond to one experimental group.  A waypoint "type" will correspond to one instance of the experiment being performed or the sample being taken.  Fields for experimental data can be numeric or text.  Marimsys BRIDGE is capable of plotting on the screen one, some or all groups, and one, some, or all types of waypoints to the screen.  This enables the plotting of the experiments of one person or group to the screen for report preparation purposes.  Users will find that prints made of the program screen such as in the example, greatly simplify the process of report writing.   Likewise, a series of experiments can be planned using the system, leaving for the vessel Captain a clear series of marks for transit.  The appropriate charting, either bathymetry made using expedition data (Marimsys Charts), Marimsys Satellite Gravity or Bathymetric Charting, or a scanned in Sovereign Nautical Chart can be used as the background for the illustrations.  

Entire project	Results table	One experiment

The project routes were laid out to maximize the horizontal area for experimentation, and to minimize ship time at sea and distance traveled. 

Chart types, created by Marine Imaging, can include colored contour charts such as in the sample charting, or 3D projections.  Instead of depth, surface or at depth temperature readings, salinity, dissolved oxygen and other chemical quantities, can be graphed over the area (generally using Latitude and Longitude respectively for the Y and X axes) in which the samples were taken.  

A critical part of a good series of experiments is planning the area in which they are to take place.  Marimsys Satellite Bathymetry is a low cost manner to obtain estimated seabed bathymetry over a large area.  That bathymetry calibrated inside the system is then used for the creation of the waypoints describing the route and the actual experiments to take place.

A bit of explanation about the screen in the example:  the upper left status bar gives cursor position, the bearing from the ship to the cursor, and vessel speed.  The status bar along the bottom tells you that instrument data is entering, ship position, time, date, course, vessel speed, echosounder depth, temperature and the status of the Autolog.  The ship position is represented by an arrow, and right below the tip of the arrow, you'll see the depth shown for the position on the Marimsys Chart - 488 meters - same as the echosounder. 

With Marimsys BRIDGE and Marimsys Charts you have a view of the bottom.  You can visualize your activities in front of that view of the bottom.  You will observe one type of result some types of terrain, and other results in other types of bottom.  You will observe bottom that would catch your gear, and be able to perform your experiments right beside the obstructions, not on them.  You will make more rapid connections with your experiment and the bottom, between cause on the bottom and effect in your results.  The result, in a climate of ever increasing vessel costs, is more highly productive days at sea.

BRIDGE is a full-fledged electronic plotter that uses many different types of charting.  Notable among the types of charts it uses are Marimsys Charts, prepared by us from data gathered by your own vessel.  These provide a view of your workplace - the seabed - that is unsurpassed.  Scale can range down to about 1: 2500 for the difficult bottom where you need that level of detail to work.  Our Marimsys BRIDGE System gathers the data to make Marimsys Charts of the bottom, and also displays many different types of charts such as: Bathymetric, and Gravity Charts for exploration of new areas; and of course, normal Sovereign Nautical Charts. 

These Marimsys Chart images are very highly detailed views of the bottom and provide extensive habitat information, as well as make the obstacles to undersea equipment visible.  This means that you see the character of the ocean bottom where you are achieving (or not achieving) good results, and can  visualize the movement of currents and eddies over and around the terrain.   You can make connections over what combination of bottom type and feature (hill, valley, slope or flats) and current (ebb, set, various current layers, temperature, and season) are productive - and which combinations are not. 

F/V Friosur VIII and Captain Jon Ivar Halvarsson collected the data for these Marimsys Charts. Grimur Eiricksson and Carlos Vial I. kindly gave us permission to use these images, the property of Friosur S.A.  Our thanks to them and the Friosur team.  Latitudes and Longitudes appearing in the screens have been changed to protect the actual locations.