University of Ljubljana, Faculty of electrical engineering

Research projects funded by the Slovenian Research Agency.

Research project

Member of University of Ljubljana: UL Faculty of Electrical Engineering

Code: L2-70120

Project: DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A CTD INSTRUMENT FOR FISHING GEAR MONITORING AND CROWDSOURCED OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA COLLECTION

Period: 2026-2029

Range on year: 1.66 FTE

Head: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/12100

Research activity: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

Research Organisation: https://fe.uni-lj.si/

Abstract: Ongoing development of autonomous platforms and sensor networks, combined with crowdsourced data and community engagement, will play a crucial role in addressing the remaining gaps in ocean observation.

The project focuses on the design and development of a conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) instrument for fishing gear monitoring and crowdsourced oceanographic data collection.

Development process will begin with design and fabrication of advanced MEMS-based conductivity and temperature sensors, followed by development of sensor electronics. This will include integrating the sensors into the housing, performing electrical characterization of the developed sensors and electronics, and conducting final testing of the instrument in both laboratory and real-world environments.

Developed CTD instrument must meet stringent criteria, including the ability to measure conductivity, temperature and depth values within the thermocline layer during rapid descent or ascent of fishing gear. It will deliver highly accurate measurements with a rapid response time (< 1 s). Instrument housing will be designed to be exceptionally robust, featuring no protruding parts, ensuring low power consumption, long-term autonomy, and seamless operation without requiring intervention from fishermen.

In the future, through the integration of the CTD instrument into the BlueSenz platform—beyond the scope of this project—and its deployment across fishing fleets, the initiative aims to establish a cost-effective, large-scale system for collecting critical oceanographic data in areas of significant interest to fisheries and marine science. These data will enhance the understanding of ocean dynamics, support climate change research, and contribute to improved ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Researchers: https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/project/17010

The phases of the project and their realization:

1. CTD design study

2. Development of CTD sensors

3. Development of CTD electronics

4. Characterization and testing of CTD instrument

Citations for bibliographic records:

https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/researcher/12100