SBIR Phase II: A Hydro Optical Analysis System (HOPAS) for Environmental Monitoring of Water Quality

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II research proposes to complete the development of an environmental information system - the Hydro-Optical Analysis System (HOPAS). HOPAS combines an advanced radiative transfer model with a powerful nonlinear programming algorithm to enable transforms of optical water measurements into information on the composition and concentration of materials that effect water quality. For the first time, measurements of the light field from satellites, aircraft, moorings, and ships can be rapidly inverted to obtain accurate estimates of phytoplankton, suspended mineral particles, and dissolved materials. HOPAS will enable scientists, environmental engineers, and aquatic resource managers to use easily obtained in situ or remotely sensed optical data to understand and manage aquatic ecosystems. HOPAS will alleviate the need for expensive, labor-intensive laboratory analysis of water samples for use in addressing water quality issues, including microbial growth in drinking water supplies, surface pollutants from farms, industries, vessels, and domestic sources, algal blooms, fisheries and mariculture, and protection of coral reefs and sea grass beds.