Market Size assessment for HF radar wave measurement systems

位于海岸的高频雷达测量从海面向后散射的无线电信号，可以对这些信号进行分析，以提供实时的海面流、浪和风的测量。沿海过程模型的开发和评价需要这些数据，包括沿海洪水、溢流、侵蚀/淤积和气候变化的影响、船舶交通服务、搜索和救援应用、水质，例如洗澡水域指令；藻类大量繁殖的移动、石油泄漏跟踪、近海石油和天然气、海洋可再生能源的资源评估和监测、实时测试和吸收到作业波浪和水动力学模型和其他应用中。高频雷达海流测量的商业应用潜力已经被证明。CODAR海洋传感器自1986年开始进入这一市场，目前已在全球部署了250多个系统。英国的海王星雷达有限公司和德国的Helzel GmbH公司在欧洲开发了不同的技术。Helzel和海王星都与海景遥感公司(2004年由PI根据这项提议成立)合作，后者提供将雷达信号转换为MetOcean测量数据的软件。谢菲尔德大学在开发可操作的波浪测量能力方面一直走在前列，该项目的目的是进行市场研究，以评估该产品的市场规模。这将使大学和NERC能够在未来就进一步开发这项技术的可能投资做出决定。这项工作将首先对技术进行评价；进行环境分析以评估影响因素；分析用户和竞争对手，以了解现有市场情况。将通过初步研究、调查和电话采访相结合的方式了解用户需求和关键决策者。将寻求诸如变化驱动因素、潜在新的或额外购买的时间表以及适合用途的产品的可接受价格范围等指标。结论将以报告的形式提出，描述市场研究的结果和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.