Market Size assessment for HF radar wave measurement systems

海岸上的高频雷达测量海面反向散射的无线电信号，对这些信号进行分析，可提供实时的海面潮流、波浪和风的测量结果。沿海过程模型的开发和评估需要这些数据，包括沿海洪水、漫顶、侵蚀/增生和气候变化的影响、船舶交通服务、搜索和救援应用、水质（例如洗澡水指令）；藻华运动、溢油跟踪、海上油气、海洋可再生能源资源评估和监测、海浪和水动力模型的实时测试和同化以及其他应用。高频雷达电流测量在海洋学应用方面的商业潜力已经得到证明。CODAR海洋传感器自1986年以来一直在这个市场上，目前在世界各地部署了250多个系统。英国的Neptune Radar Ltd和德国的Helzel GmbH在欧洲开发了不同的技术。Helzel和Neptune都与Seaview Sensing（2004年由该提案的PI成立）合作，后者提供将雷达信号转换为海洋测量的软件。谢菲尔德大学一直处于开发可操作波浪测量能力的最前沿，该项目的目的是进行市场研究，以评估该产品的市场规模。这将使该大学和NERC能够在未来就该技术进一步发展的可能投资做出决定。这项工作将从技术评估开始；环境分析，评价影响因素；用户和竞争对手的分析，以发展现有市场的图片。通过初步研究、调查和电话访谈相结合，将获得对用户需求和关键决策者的了解。将寻求诸如推动变革的因素、可能新的或额外采购的时间表以及适合用途产品的可接受价格范围等指标。结论将以一份报告的形式提出，该报告描述了市场研究的结果以及通过成功交付产品可能获得的市场机会。

HF radars located on the coast measure radio signals backscattered from the sea surface which can be analysed to provide real-time surface current, wave and wind measurements. Such data are needed for coastal process model development and evaluation including coastal flooding, overtopping, erosion/accretion and impacts of climate change, vessel traffic services, search and rescue applications, water quality e.g. bathing waters directive; movement of algal blooms, oil spill tracking, offshore oil and gas, resource assessment and monitoring for marine renewables, real time testing of and assimilation into operational wave and hydrodynamic models and other applications. The commercial potential for oceanographic applications of HF radar current measurement has already been demonstrated. CODAR Ocean Sensors have been in this market since 1986 and currently have over 250 systems deployed around the world. Different technologies have been developed in Europe by Neptune Radar Ltd in the UK and Helzel GmbH in Germany. Helzel and Neptune both work with Seaview Sensing (established in 2004 by the PI to this proposal) who provide the software to convert the radar signals into metocean measurements. The University of Sheffield has been in the forefront of the development of an operational wave measurement capability and the purpose of this project is to carry out market research to assess the size of the market for this product. This will enable the University and NERC to make decisions in the future about possible investment in further developments of this technology. The work will start with an evaluation of the technology; environmental analysis to assess influencing factors; user and competitor analysis in order to develop a picture of the available market. An understanding of user requirements and key decision makers will be gained through a combination of primary research, surveys and telephone interviews. Indicators such as drivers for change, time-scales for potential new or additional purchases and acceptable price ranges for a fit for purpose product will be sought. The conclusions will be presented in the form of a report describing the findings of the market research and the likely market opportunities available through successful delivery of the product.