Glider Rodeo

Survey Logistics

NMFS will be carrying out performance testing across glider systems during a 2-week ‘glider rodeo’ planned for Hawaii in February 2026. A pre-designed survey path will provide for resampling of the same area by each glider platform over the 2 week effort. Glider performance and acoustic detection metrics will be measured for each system to enable comparison and inform future glider acquisitions and use by NMFS.

NMFS-funded testing will include Slocum, Seaglider, OceanScout (Hefring) and SeaExplorer (Alseamar) platforms with DMONS2, WISPR, and Alseamar’s acoustic acquisition systems. Additional systems may be considered (assuming no additional costs).

Metrics

During the glider rodeo, we will identify and define a series of metrics to be calculated for each platform. These metrics will provide a means of comparison to identify strengths and limitations, as well as ranges of performance. The metrics include:

  1. Operational metrics: Measures related to active operations and routine functioning of the platform and systems (including glider platform, oceanographic sensors, battery/power, satellite transmissions, software interface, and glider piloting).

  2. Passive acoustic metrics: Measure related to assessing detection, classification, and localization of animals.

  3. Soundscape Metrics: Measures related to assessing ambient sound, including acoustic sensitivity/calibration, self-noise, available data, and ability to measure soundscape in hybrid millidecade. There is a natural crossover between soundscape and bioacoustics measures; soundscape metrics will be all PAM metrics not directly associated with animal sounds.

  4. Resource metrics: measures of resources (personnel, expertise, equipment, materials, time, budget) needed to implement the technology.

We are actively working with experts to develop a suite of metrics that provide a means of assessing each platform that can be completed with the available resources. We will make these metrics (including their definition) publicly accessible here when they are available.