Success Stories

Apr 8, 2020

Sensors, science and sampling: March 2020 expedition highlights

From 1-13 March, Natural Resources Canada and Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) embarked on the annual spring expedition aboard CCGS John P. Tully to maintain infrastructure at observatory sites in the southern Salish Sea and offshore locations at Folger Deep and Barkley Canyon.

These maintenance expeditions allow for a hands-on approach—remotely operated vehicle (ROVs) hands, that is—to ensure things are running smoothly on the underwater networks, to deploy new instruments, and to enable sampling for calibrations, ongoing studies, and experiments.

Led by ONC’s marine operations experts, the 18-member team of scientists, engineers, technicians, data specialists and Canadian Coast Guard crew were able to complete 52 out of 56 planned operations, resulting in a...

Past Stories

Nicolai Bailly – Up and Coming Underwater Acoustics Engineer

Aug 15, 2013

One of our key mandates at Ocean Networks Canada is to find and encourage highly qualified personnel to sustain and advance ocean industry. At the Centre of Innovation, these young professionals-in-training come from a wide range of disciplines in engineering and science.

In September 2012, U Vic electrical engineering student Nicolai Bailly was brought on board to help develop the world’s first very low frequency (VLF) digital hydrophone calibration system.

icListen Hydrophone Excels in Innovation Centre Tests

Mar 22, 2013

Instrument Concepts based near Truro, Nova Scotia, has developed new state-of-the-art, fully integrated digital “smart” hydrophones with GeoSpectrum Technologies transducers—making them ideal candidates for Ocean Networks Canada Innovation Centre technology demonstrations.

2012: Innovation Centre Review

Jan 11, 2013

We have the unique position of being Canada’s Centre of Excellence in Ocean Observing Systems, with a mission to strengthen Canada’s international leadership role in ocean observing science and technology.

Data Now Streaming From Cambridge Bay

Dec 14, 2012

After a year and a half in development with the Government of Nunavut and the community of Cambridge Bay, a new community observatory is now streaming continuous data from the Arctic seafloor.

Anniversary for Saanich Inlet Node Upgrades

Jul 24, 2012

This month it has been a year since the 5-year old node of VENUS in Saanich Inlet was upgraded by our industry partner, OceanWorks International, to expand its capabilities to support science on the VENUS Observatory.

Supporting BC's Economy

May 1, 2012

Ocean-oriented activities in British Columbia account for eight per cent of B.C.'s jobs and seven per cent of the province’s GDP. Ocean sector revenues and government/not-for-profit ocean-oriented expenditures in B.C. represent $11.6 billion annually. Corresponding direct economic impacts included $5.76 billion in GDP, $4.2 billion in wages, salaries and benefits, and over 80,000 person-years of employment FTEs.

ONCCEE Facilitates Creation of National Ocean Technology Alliance

Nov 7, 2011

One of the Ocean Networks Canada Innovation Centre's objectives as a CECR is to strengthen domestic collaboration nationally. To help meet this objective, the Centre has facilitated the creation of the Ocean Technology Alliance Canada (OTAC), linking Canada's regional associations to foster, promote and facilitate mutually beneficial ocean technology initiatives in Canada through a collaborative network of networks.

Arctic Observatory Feasibility Study

Nov 7, 2011

In early 2011 ONC signed a collaboration agreement with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) to complete a feasibility study on installing an Ocean Observatory in Canada's Arctic. Led by the Ocean Networks Canada Innovation Centre with partners from ASL Environmental Sciences, Golder Associates and Coastal and Ocean Resources, a team of industry experts completed a detailed study on using technologies developed on VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada to establish a permanent, 24/7 monitoring capability in Canada's High Arctic.

VENUS Work Launches Oceanworks to Commercial Success in the Mediterranean

Jul 10, 2011

A Vancouver company’s work for VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada opened a new path in its technology development and led OceanWorks International to a massive project in Cyprus.

Improving Data Analysis With IBM Streams

May 31, 2011

This technology can increase classification rates by providing a continuous stream of objects-of-interest. The IBM InfoSphere Streams system along with new image processing software will be used to automatically flag specific times in the underwater video archives. The processed video will be tagged with the appropriate metadata (e.g. object type, object size, movement, time). The result will be the ability to skip ahead to the next remarkable observation caught on camera without wading through numerous hours of insignificant video. Observation times will be reduced, allowing scientists to reach their conclusions quicker.

The Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) Observatory

May 1, 2011

Over the last seven years, the Government of British Columbia has joined the Government of Canada in investing in the development of the world’s largest and most advanced cabled observatory—the Ocean Networks Canada Observatory. Through fibre optic cable, seafloor nodes and innovative scientific equipment, the observatory is changing the way we study the ocean, providing scientific evidence for policy-makers on a wide range of critical issues, and developing new worldleading technologies that will create jobs and economic opportunities for British Columbians.