Research Notes
Collection of specialized research notes and insights advancing underwater domain awareness.
Recognising Indigenous Knowledge as a Working Input to Underwater Domain Awareness: Insights from the Indian Ocean Region
This research note examines the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and traditional ecological practices into the Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) framework in the Indian Ocean Region. It highlights how coastal communities, fishing populations, and maritime indigenous groups possess valuable knowledge of marine ecosystems, ocean conditions, and maritime activities that can complement technology-driven surveillance. The study advocates a more inclusive, community-centred approach to maritime security, sustainability, and ocean governance.
Antifouling Techniques: History and Evolution of Marine Fouling Control
This review examines the evolution and current state of antifouling technology in marine engineering, tracing its development from early empirical methods to modern environmentally sustainable solutions. It highlights the impact of the 2008 IMO ban on tributyltin (TBT), the emergence of advanced coating technologies, and the growing shift toward non-toxic antifouling systems that improve vessel efficiency while meeting environmental regulations.
Autonomous Maritime Systems and Strategic Undersea Infrastructure: China’s Emerging Ocean Technologies
This research note examines China's development of autonomous maritime systems and strategic undersea infrastructure, exploring how these capabilities form a smart ocean architecture that enhances surveillance, underwater domain awareness (UDA), and maritime influence across the Indo-Pacific, with particular significance for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in the Indo-Pacific: A Tropical Perspective Through the UDA Framework
This research note emphasises the utility of the UDA framework, underscoring the need for a context-specific approach and its ability to integrate policy, technology, community, and other stakeholders. It also notes that. A tropical maritime analysis is essential toward a comprehensive understanding of the Indo-Pacific region to secure maritime governance and sustainable development.
Fisheries and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment: CPUE Improvement, Seasonal Harvest Optimization, and Fisher-Level Benefits
The Enhanced Fishing Suitability Index (FSI) delivers measurable socio-economic benefits by improving fisheries efficiency, reducing operational risks, and supporting sustainable resource management. With projected CPUE gains of 15–23% and annual economic benefits exceeding INR 300 crore for Maharashtra alone, the framework demonstrates how advanced ocean intelligence can strengthen fisher livelihoods, improve food security, and accelerate India's Blue Economy objectives.
Scientific Foundation for Multi-Parameter Fisheries: Intelligence Oceanographic Basis, Single-Parameter Limitations, and the Case for Integrated Assessment
This note addresses three foundational questions: (1) What are the key oceanographic processes governing fish habitat quality in the tropical Arabian Sea? (2) Why do single parameter approaches fail to capture the full complexity of these processes? (3) What scientific basis supports the development of a multi-parameter composite suitability in dex?
Technical Architecture and Modeling Framework for Multi-Parameter FSI: Data Pipeline, Normalization, Correlation Insights, and Habitat Compression Modelling
This research note details the technical architecture underpinning the Enhanced Fishing Suitability Index (FSI) for the Ratnagiri coastal zone. This note focuses on the computational pipeline: data ingestion from NetCDF ocean model outputs, depth integration and extraction strategies, normalisation schemes, weighting rationale, and the spatial interpolation methodology developed for operational deployment on H3 hexagonal grids.