Exploiting on-board data storage for improved wave sensing models for non-ideal buoy hulls

The increasing accuracy, power efficiency, performance, and features of micro-electro-mechanical sensors, have enabled these sensors to be used for wave measurement on a variety of buoy and other platforms that would have been impractical with previous mechanical systems. But the flexibility offered by these sensors, requires examination of the characteristics of individual platforms as wave followers and in producing an orbital motion response to wave stimulus. Fortunately enhancements that support onboard mass storage, such as those provided by the SVS-603 from SeaView Systems, have enabled the capture of complete sets of raw sensor outputs for even very long term deployments. This raw motion data can be used to retroactively examine platform specifics including their response to wave stimulus, system noise, and other considerations such as mooring effects. This paper will present recent work to build supporting utilities for exploiting the mass data produced by sensor deployments and show preliminary attempts to make use of these to gain insight into buoy hull behavior.