Design Concept of an Innovative Smart Buoy for Marine Environment Monitoring

In the complex network of the marine ecosystem, biotic and abiotic elements coexist in a delicate self-regulated balance that requires protection from the disruptive forces of climate changes and anthropic pressures. These factors introduce variations in the chemical-physical parameters of oceans and seas, which are leading to an increasingly worrying loss of biodiversity. Therefore, it becomes imperative to conduct effective monitoring to understand the complexities of the adaptation processes of marine ecosystem, and evaluate adequate strategies for mitigating the effects of anthropogenic pollution. In this context, the paper presents the design concept of an innovative smart buoy for the marine monitoring of coastal waters, where there is a high anthropogenic impact. To this end, the proposed smart buoy was designed to be equipped with the sensors necessary to perform monitoring activities; furthermore, the device is thought to be motorized and equipped with a positioning system in order to reach and maintain a specific position. This paper focuses on initial design phases of the smart buoy, starting with delineating the functional specifications and continuing through to the conceptualization phase. Initially, the functional specifications were systematically identified from the analysis of the smart buoy’s use scenarios. A comprehensive high-level architecture was subsequently formulated, outlining the main components of the system and their interactions in line with the identified requirements. Finally, a series of concepts are presented, each offering a distinct interpretation of the device.