Collaborative Research: Optimization of the Multibeam Sonar Systems of the U.S. Academic Fleet through Coordinated System Testing, Tool Development, and Community Outreach

多波束咨询委员会(MAC)成立于2011年，目的是协调全舰队范围的声纳校准，对系统性能进行一致和例行的评估，并为一致的数据采集做法提供工具和协议。该提案要求资金继续开展这些活动，重点是开发和维护与美国学术研究舰队(ARF)的多波束声纳操作和监测有关的技术资源、信息和工具。陆委会将继续促进利益攸关方社区之间的沟通和知识共享，就一系列广泛的多波束问题提供指导，以改进收集和评估这些数据的方式。这项合作提案是一项为期5年的持续赠款。年度递增将在年度报告的基础上与计划进行谈判。广泛影响：本提案的主要影响是根据提案指南(NSF 13-589)的功绩审查标准2。它为科学家提供基础设施支持，以使用该船及其共享仪器，以支持他们由NSF资助的海洋研究项目(这些项目单独接受NSF相关研究计划的单独审查)。共享仪器的获取、维护和操作允许美国国家科学基金会资助的任何美国大学或实验室的研究人员获得用于其研究的工作、校准的仪器，从而降低研究成本，并扩大潜在研究人员的基础。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Multibeam Advisory Committee (MAC) was established in 2011 to coordinate fleet-wide sonar calibration, perform consistent and routine assessment of system performance, and to provide tools and protocols for consistent data acquisition practices. This proposal requests funds to continue these activities, focusing on the development and maintenance of technical resources, information, tools regarding the operation and monitoring of multibeam sonars across the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF). The MAC will continue to facilitate communication and knowledge-sharing among the community of stakeholders to provide guidance on a broad array of multibeam issues to improve how these data are collected and assessed. This collaborative proposal is for a 5-year continuing grant. Yearly increments will be negotiated with the Program based on the annual report.Broader Impacts: The principal impact of the present proposal is under Merit Review Criterion 2 of the Proposal Guidelines (NSF 13-589). It provides infrastructure support for scientists to use the vessel and its shared-use instrumentation in support of their NSF-funded oceanographic research projects (which individually undergo separate review by the relevant research program of NSF). The acquisition, maintenance and operation of shared-use instrumentation allows NSF-funded researchers from any US university or lab access to working, calibrated instruments for their research, reducing the cost of that research, and expanding the base of potential researchers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.