Coastal Observer
Oceans hold the promise of immense resource wealth and great potential for boosting economic growth, employment, and innovation. South Africa is surrounded by vast oceans with immense potential as an untapped resource—the potential to contribute billions of rand to the GDP and offer employment to many South Africans.
Operation Phakisa focuses on unlocking the economic potential of South Africa’s oceans with the goal of stimulating the local economy and deepening economic transformation. In response to this vision, CPUT has developed the Coastal Observer, which can play a significant role in managing the country’s coastline.
The smart buoy enables users to receive real-time data through wireless telemetry from a range of sensors mounted on and powered by the platform. It provides knowledge that would enable a better understanding of the coastal environment. The range of offerings can be customised based on specific needs.
For example, it could provide an alert when a red tide is about to develop along the coast. Where red tides occur, dead fish wash up on shore for up to two weeks after the event. In addition to killing fish, the toxic algae contaminate shellfish. Changes in dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in the water can be detected using specific sensors on the Coastal Observer, thus allowing for accurate predictions.
South Africa also has a problem with illegal fishing along the coast, which costs the industry an estimated R4 billion annually. The system can monitor illegal activity on the coast, allowing for informed interventions aimed at protecting resources.
When servicing existing market offerings, technicians have to remove the entire buoy from the ocean. This means that crucial data cannot be collected during service periods. To counter this problem, the Coastal Observer has a modular design to improve operational procedures. The modular design allows for easier maintenance and repairs, as modules are of manageable size and can be replaced with service modules when required. Additionally, the buoy will feature locally sourced components.
Aonyx Holdings (Pty) Ltd is seeking investors who would like to invest in a new spin-out company focused on manufacturing and distributing a range of Coastal Observers and related services.
