NSF Convergence Accelerator Track E: Convergence Towards Nationwide Smart Precision Aquaculture Networks for Sustainable Shellfish Farming

这一融合加速器项目旨在解决贝类水产养殖的可持续性问题。作为沿海经济的重要驱动力，贝类水产养殖是最具生态可持续性的水产养殖形式。贝类水产养殖具有许多环境效益，贝类可以作为健康的蛋白质来源来增进人类健康。然而，目前国内贝类生产受到落后技术和工具的瓶颈制约。许多贝类养殖方式效率低下，劳动密集型，并破坏环境。这对于底层牡蛎养殖来说尤其如此，在过去的200年里，这种养殖几乎没有什么变化。这一融合加速器项目将在全国智能精准水产养殖网络(SPAN)上建立一个新的框架，以实现可持续的贝类生产，同时保护健康的海洋生态系统。从长远来看，该项目将解决联合国确定的粮食、气候变化和健康等全球问题。。计划中的教育努力将带来慈善和社会变革，将其作为科学和工程教育的核心价值，并促进多样性和包容性。这将帮助下一代劳动力做好准备，推动网络化的蓝色经济，改善地球的健康和所有人的生活质量。SPAN框架将通过使用由先进技术(如物联网(IoT)、机器人和人工智能(AI))、生物、环境科学和海洋科学的科学发现以及利益相关者驱动的经济发展所授权的革命性概念来建立。该项目将从根本上推动以下具体方向的研究：i)将建立物联网传感器网络，以提高对未来贝类水产养殖的监测能力；ii)将开发基于机器人和自动化解决方案的新型智能精准捕捞工具，以提高养殖效率和生产率，减少劳动力和能源的使用，并最大限度地减少对环境的影响；iii)将创建经验动态模型，以对生产与环境之间的反馈有新的了解，并做出产量预测；以及iv)将建立基于经济模型的优化框架，以支持生产决策，以获得环境和经济效益。总体而言，这些研究活动最终将导致更好的农场管理、经济优化和更好地应对气候变化，从而提高产量和可持续性。这一融合加速器项目汇集了一个跨学科团队，他们在传感和成像、人工智能和计算机视觉、水下机器人和控制、贝类生物学、气候和海洋动力学以及海洋学、环境经济学和水产养殖推广方面拥有广泛的专业知识，以及随时准备参与的利益攸关方，以追求具有高社会影响潜力的研究。计划中的教育努力将带来慈善和社会变革，将其作为科学和工程教育的核心价值，并促进多样性和包容性。这将有助于为下一代劳动力做好准备，以推进网络化的蓝色经济，并改善地球的健康和所有人的生活质量。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This convergence accelerator project is intended to address the sustainability issues of shellfish aquaculture. As an important driver of the coastal economy, shellfish aquaculture is the most ecologically sustainable form of aquaculture. Shellfish aquaculture offers numerous environmental benefits, and shellfish can serve as a healthy source of protein to enhance human health. However, current domestic shellfish production is bottlenecked by outdated technology and tools. Many shellfish farming practices are inefficient, labor intensive, and environmentally destructive. This is particularly true for on-bottom oyster farming, which has changed little in the past 200 years. This convergence accelerator project will develop a novel framework on nationwide smart precision aquaculture networks (SPAN) to achieve sustainable shellfish production, while preserving healthy marine ecosystems. In the long term, this project will address the global issues of food, climate change, and health as identified by the United Nations. . The planned education effort will bring philanthropy and social change as a core value for science and engineering education as well as promote diversity and inclusion. This will help prepare the next-generation workforce to advance the networked blue economy and to improve the health of the planet and quality of life for all.The SPAN framework will be established by using revolutionary concepts empowered by advanced technologies (e.g., Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI)), scientific discoveries in biology, environmental science, and ocean sciences, and stakeholder-driven economic development. The project will fundamentally push research boundaries in the following specific directions: i) IoT sensor networks will be established to advance the monitoring capabilities for future shellfish aquaculture; ii) Novel smart precision harvesting tools based on robotics and automation solutions will be developed to improve farming efficiency and productivity, reduce labor and energy usage, and minimize environmental impact; iii) Empirical dynamic models will be created to gain new understanding on feedback between production and environment, as well as to make production predictions; and iv) An optimization framework based on economic models will be established to support production decision-making to gain environmental and economic benefits. Collectively, these research activities will ultimately lead to better farm management, economic optimization, and better coping with climate change, and thus enhance production and sustainability. This convergent accelerator project brings together an interdisciplinary team with extensive expertise in sensing and imaging, AI and computer vision, underwater robotics and controls, shellfish biology, climate and ocean dynamics and oceanography, environmental economics, and aquaculture extension, along with readily-engaged stakeholders, in pursuit of research with high potential for societal impact. The planned education effort will bring philanthropy and social change as a core value for science and engineering education as well as promote diversity and inclusion. This will help prepare the next-generation workforce to advance the networked blue economy and to improve the health of the planet and quality of life for all.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.