SGER: High Bandwidth Ocean Tele-presence: An iGrid Prototype

本项目扩展了通过ITR计划资助的Looking项目的目标。私人投资机构请求提供支持，以调查和推进网络基础设施在偏远环境中的效用，利用两个重要的机会：东北太平洋的一个面向海底火山的实地项目与在圣地亚哥举行的一个主要计算和通信展示会--IGRID--同时进行。PIS建议在2005年9月利用Keck-NSF-UW联合支持的研究巡航，向常规、远程使用高清晰度电视实时调查复杂的海底生态系统迈出早期一步。在这次巡航中，活跃的海底热液系统的高清电视图像将从Jason远程操作运载器(ROV)传输到R/V Thomas G.Thompson，从Thompson号传输到西雅图的UWTV，然后传输到圣地亚哥的IGRID。科学研究将集中在一套热液气田上，这些气田代表着全球大洋中脊扩张网络沿线已知的最活跃的喷发区域之一。它容纳了数百名黑人吸烟者，他们居住在数十座硫化物结构上，这些结构高出海底20到30米。喷口系统支持丰富多样的化学合成生物群落。来自海底的高清电视信号将被记录在汤普森号上，现场制作人员将在那里同时记录指导研究的一致科学对话，重点是地震活动、热液产出和海底以下微生物生产力之间的联系。海底和水面实况转播的混合和压缩版本将通过银河10R卫星传输到UWTV演播室。在威斯康星大学，来自海洋的未压缩图像将与第三个高清电视流混合在一起，与一群陆上学生、研究人员和狂欢教师通过反向通道音频通信与海上科学家互动。这三个全带宽视频流和一个不断更新的背景材料流将被发送给国际网格会议。由于预期将在海洋观测站倡议(OOI)范围内开发新的研究基础设施，并与IGRID传统保持一致，这一原型工作的目标是第一次展示：1)从深海传输实时、互动的高清晰度图像用于进行涉及陆上参与者的远程研究的可行性和效用；2)推动带宽、信号质量和反馈机制的效用和重要性，以捕捉复杂的远程环境的动态，以便广泛传播给陆基受众；以及3)后续计划的强大潜力导致高清晰度电视流的实时、3-D使用，为有线天文台到达后的远程、精确操作打开了令人兴奋的新研究和推广机会。这是一个尖端的高风险项目，可能会产生更广泛的影响：本提案中将研究的许多技术的融合将增强来自广泛学科的科学家和教育工作者的能力，并使他们能够在偏远和/或危险的环境中研究行星到微生物尺度的系统动力学。例如，所调查的能力将使包括计算机和海洋科学家、工程师、教育工作者、学生和普通公众在内的多个群体能够使用卫星链接以尽可能高的视觉保真度现场观察正在进行的偏远深海火山研究。这样做的目的是开始改变社会对真实的、动态的海洋系统和科学研究总体行为的看法。

ABSTRACTThis project expands on the goals of the LOOKING project funded through the ITR Program. The PIs request support to investigate and advance the utility of cyber-infrastructure in remote environments taking advantage of two significant opportunities; a submarine volcano oriented field program in the NE Pacific occurring at the same time as a major computing and communication show-case, iGrid, taking place in San Diego. The PIs propose to take an early step toward routine, remote use of High Definition TV for real-time inquiry into complex seafloor ecosystems using a combined Keck-NSF-UW supported research cruise in September 2005. On this cruise, HDTV imagery of vigorous seafloor hydrothermal systems will be transmitted from the JASON Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to the R/V Thomas G. Thompson, from the Thompson to UWTV in Seattle, then to iGrid in San Diego. The scientific research will focus on a suite of hydrothermal fields that represent one of the most vigorously venting areas known along the global mid-ocean ridge spreading network. It hosts hundreds of black smokers on many tens of sulfide structures that rise 20 to 30 m above the seafloor. The vent systems support richly diverse, chemosynthetic biological communities. The HDTV signal from the seafloor will be recorded on board the Thompson, where a field production crew will simultaneously record coincident scientific dialogues guiding the research focused on linkages among earthquake activity, hydrothermal output, and sub seafloor microbial productivity. A blended and compressed version of both seafloor and surface-ship live feeds will be transmitted via the Galaxy 10R Satellite to the UWTV Studio. At UW, the uncompressed imagery from sea will be mixed, with a third HDTV stream with a group of land-based students, researchers and REVEL teachers interacting via back-channel audio communications with the scientists at sea. The three full bandwidth video streams, and a continuously updated stream of contextual material, will be transmitted to the iGrid Conference. In anticipation of new research infrastructure being developed within the Ocean Observatory Initiative (OOI) and in keeping with iGrid tradition, the goals of this prototype effort are to demonstrate, for the first time: 1) the feasibility and utility of transmitting live, interactive high-definition imagery from the deep sea for conducting remote research involving land-based participants; 2) the utility and importance of pushing the envelope on bandwidth, signal quality, and feedback mechanisms required to capture the dynamics of complex remote environments for widespread distribution to land-based audiences, and; 3) the powerful potentials for follow-on programs leading to real-time, 3-D use of HDTV streams opening exciting new research and outreach opportunities for remote, precision operations upon arrival of cabled observatories. This is cutting-edge risky project that could Broader Impacts:The convergence of many technologies that will be investigated in this proposal will empower scientists and educators from a broad range of disciplines and allow them to examine planetary-to-microbial scale system dynamics in remote and/or dangerous environments. For example, the capabilities investigated will allow multiple groups, including computer and ocean scientists, engineers, educators, students and the general public to observe remote deep sea volcano research taking place live with the highest visual fidelity possible using a satellite link. In doing so, the intent is to begin changing the way that society views real, dynamical ocean systems and the conduct of scientific research in general.