Metadata-Driven Universal Real-Time Ocean Sound Measurement Architecture

Underwater sound in the oceans has been significantly rising past decades due to an increase human activities, adversely affecting marine environment. In order assess and limit impact of underwater noise, European Commission's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) included long-term monitoring low-frequency as a relevant indicator achieve good environmental status. There is wide range commercial hydrophones observing platforms able perform such measurements. However, heterogeneity lack standardization both makes integration data management tasks time-consuming error-prone. Moreover, their power communications constraints need be addressed make them suitable for ocean monitoring. Measured levels are challenging compare because different measurement methodologies used, leading risk misunderstandings misinterpretation. Furthermore, exact methodology applied not always public or accessible, reducing re-usability. Within this work, universal architecture presented, addressing hydrophone integration, real-time situ processing challenges. Emphasis placed on generic re-usable components, so it can seamlessly replicated deployed new scenarios regardless underlying hardware software (hydrophone model, platform, operating system, etc.). proposed architecture, implementation algorithm based noise best practices provided. Standardized coherent metadata with emphasis strong semantics discussed, providing building blocks FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) management.