| Short Name: IFREMER |  |
| Country: France |
Description
Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la MER (IFREMER), is France’s national integrated marine science research institute, contributes to the national and European strategy for research and innovation by generating knowledge, applied research results and technologies in response to society requirements, and mainly to the economic development of the marine sector. Through a systemic approach and in the context of global change, Ifremer participates in observing and monitoring the marine environment at all levels and in studying ecosystems, the processes that govern them as well as the services that they provide. To this end, Ifremer designs and builds marine research and monitoring infrastructures, develops tools for observation and scientific investigation and manages databases. Since 1st January 2018, IFREMER manages and operates the French oceanographic fleet for the benefit of the whole scientific community.
The French oceanographic fleet is composed of 11 Research Vessels (including 6 owned by Ifremer such as Thalassa and L’europe, part of TransNational Access), and four underwater vehicles for deep sea exploration (owned and operated by Ifremer): 1 manned submersible (max. water depth: -6000 m), 1 Remotely-Operated Vehicle (ROV) for the deep sea (- 6000 m), 1 Hybrid ROV (HROV) (part of TNA) and 2 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) (- 3000m) (part of TNA).
Role
IFREMER are involved in WP2 Transnational Access.
Access to Research Vessels and related infrastructure: RV Thalassa [Global/Regional] and RV L’Europe [Regional], as well as AUV AsterX [2850m depth rating] and ROV Ariane [Hybrid ROV, 2450m depth rating].
IFREMER will undertake activities in WP3 Joint Research Activities
The whole French Oceanographic Department shall be involved in the project: the “Underwater systems” Unit and the “Ships and on-board systems” Unit which also includes scientific software development for acquisition and processing of data acquired at sea from ships instrumentation. Most of the developments are currently used by laboratories and research institutions in Europe and around the world.
This knowledge shall contribute to the data management, the development of EVIOR platform, data acquisition systems and some development and implementation of EARS software.
It will participate also in developing AUV’s mapping technology and ASV-AUV’s cooperation.
The experience in coordinating the Eurofleets2 project will benefit to Eurofleets+ by offering some consultancy in management and mostly in bringing the knowledge on strategic aspects.
IFREMER will participate in WP8 Foresight: Legacy and Roadmap.
Modality of access [ROV Ariane]: The HROV Ariane is based in IFREMER’s Toulon facilities. Access will be structured by 3 to 5-day integration & harbour trials, and sea-trials on IFREMER or opportunity (partner?) ships. For the vehicle operation itself a team of 3 operators is provided, one engineer is provided for the specific technological aim. A primer training for operations with the deep-sea medium size HROV is included in the harbour trials. Office space close to the test facilities is also made available.
Support offered [ROV Ariane]: The integration of experimental third party or partner equipment in terms of mechanical, electrical or computer engineering can be conducted in cooperation with IFREMER’s engineering teams.
Outreach to new users [ROV Ariane]: The potential of an operationally managed ROV (operating personnel, maintenance capability, guaranteed performances, wide spare part availability) combined with the flexibility of a research testbed is a major interest attracting new user communities.
Modality of access [AUV ASTERx]: The AUVs are based in IFREMER’s Toulon facilities. Technical infrastructure, test tanks, and access to a controlled harbour basin gives strong potential for integration work and harbour trials preceding sea-trials. Access will be structured by 3 to 5 day integration & harbour trials, and sea- trials on IFREMER or opportunity (partner?) ships.
A team of 3 operators is provided for AUV operations. One engineer is provided for the specific technological aim.
A primer training for operations with the deep-sea medium size AUV class is included in the harbour trials. Office space close to the test facilities is available also.
Support offered [AUV ASTERx]: The integration of experimental third party or partner equipment in terms of mechanical, electrical or computer engineering can be conducted in cooperation with IFREMER’s engineering teams. Preparatory work on a hardware-in-the-loop simulator for software integration can be made available. Outreach to new users [AUV ASTERx]: The potential of an operationally managed AUV combined with the flexibility of a research testbed is a major interest attracting new user communities.
Relevant Publications
2017
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CORAL: the new deepwater AUV program by IFREMER, L. Brignone, J. Opderbecke, IEEE Oceans MTS 2017, June 19th – 22rd 2017, Aberdeen-UK
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Khalighi Mohammad-Ali, Hamza Tasnim, Bourennane Salah, Leon Pierre, Opderbecke Jan (2017). Underwater Wireless Optical Communications Using Silicon Photo-Multipliers. Ieee Photonics Journal, 9(4), 7905310 (1-11). Publisher’s official version: http://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOT.2017.2726565,
Open Access version: http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00396/50726/
2016
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Hamza Tasnim, Khalighi Mohammad-Ali, Bourennane Salah, Leon Pierre, Opderbecke Jan (2016). Investigation of solar noise impact on the performance of underwater wireless optical communication links. Optics Express, 24(22), 25832-25845. Publisher’s official version : http://doi.org/10.1364/OE.24.025832 , Open Access version : http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00362/47272/
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Opderbecke Jan, Brisset Laurent, Boy Emilie (2016). Rapport d’activité 2015. Unité Systèmes sous- Marins. IMN/SM/16-004.
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Hamza Tasnim, Khalighi Mohammad-Ali, Bourennane Salah, Leon Pierre, Opderbecke Jan (2016). On the Suitability of Employing Silicon Photomultipliers for Underwater Wireless Optical Communication Links. Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing (CSNDSP), 2016 10th International Symposium on. pp.1-5. http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00359/47035/
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Ibanez Jesos M., Prudencio Janire, Diaz-Moreno Alejandro, Patane Domenico, Puglisi Giuseppe, Luhr Birger-Gottfried, Carrion Francisco, Danobeitia Juan Jose, Coltelli Mauro, Bianco Francesca, Del Pezzo Edoardo, Dahm Torsten, Willmott Veronica, Mazauric Valerie (2016). The TOMO-ETNA experiment: an imaging active campaign at Mt. Etna volcano. Context, main objectives, working-plans and involved research projects. Annals Of Geophysics , 59(4), S0426 (1-23) . Publisher’s official version : http://doi.org/10.4401/ag-7079 , Open Access version :: http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00353/46391/
