Infrared Polarimetric Wave Imaging (I-PWI) for Passive Remote Sensing of Sea State

The ocean surface is a dynamic and challenging work environment where knowledge of sea state and surface currents is critical for safe and effective operations. We propose to develop a new Infrared Polarimetric Wave Imaging (I-PWI) sea state sensor. I-PWI will be deployed on offshore structures such as oil platforms and wind turbines. The technology complements existing monitoring capabilities including a real-time, NOAA maintained data buoy array, numerical models, and regional ocean observation systems. I-PWI leverages new camera technology and recent advances in the physical understanding of Structure from Polarization (SfP) to capture surface slope fields used to derive sea state (wave height, period, and directional wave spectra). I-PWI also uses well-established space-time processing techniques to provide estimates of surface currents from image sequences. The system (camera and processing module) is mounted well above the sea surface, and looks down and away from the platform. This configuration reduces installation and maintenance cost relative to in situ instruments and buoys, and avoids wake contamination from the platform. The Phase II effort, if awarded, will demonstrate a prototype I-PWI system in an operationally relevant environment and advance the commercialization plans and market acceptance by publishing results and securing commitments from key stakeholders.