An Open Architecture Data Acquisition and Transfer Module (OpenDAM) for Remote Ocean Platforms

During the past decade there had been several attempts to improve the interoperability of sensors and platforms on the hardware as well as on the software level. For oceanographic instruments it turned out that the concept of standardizing interfaces and data protocols is much more challenging as one would expect, mainly due to the fact that a huge diversity of instruments and related operation modes exist that are difficult to embrace with known standardization concepts. As a consequence, true modularity for the data acquisition, transmission, processing and storage chain cannot be achieved for the time being.A different strategy is suggested where the data flow coming from the different sensors are channelled through a single acquisition and transmission system where all function of the components and subcomponents of the system are fully described and made freely available to potential other users. In essence, this concept aims at being an open-source project that not just includes the software but also the hardware. By that the needed functions can be decoupled from the actual hardware implementation which leaves some flexibility in regard to what functions shall be used on what platform.The OpenDAM as such is not a completely new system design. The innovative aspect comes in by the fact that all hardware elements are fully described and the control software is based on open source. This allows for setting up user groups that cooperatively advances the further development. As this system is designed for observing stations at remotely locations, it could also be shared with other disciplines, which actually is motivated as it has been developed as part of the EC funded project ENVRIplus [1]. An adapted licensing process either by Creative Commons [2] or based on the concept of the Open Source Initiative [3] will be determined to make the achievements traceable to the originators.