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ACT Protocols for Wave Measurement Systems
July 2012
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The success of a directional (First-5) wave measurement network is dependent in large
part on reliable and effective instrumentation (e.g., sensors and platforms);
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A thorough and comprehensive understanding of the performance of existing
technologies under real-world conditions is currently lacking, and
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An independent performance testing of wave instruments is required.
In FY 2010, ACT took a first step in implementing the Plan by developing the protocols for such
a Technology Testing and Evaluation effort in anticipation that a comprehensive testing of “state
of the art” wave sensors will be required in the near future. To achieve the goal of drafting and
defining testing and evaluation protocols, ACT held a second focused workshop where protocols
were further refined. The ACT Wave Test and Evaluation Protocol Workshop was held on 22-
24 February, 2011 at the University of South Florida. Participants of this workshop included a
number of ACT Partner Academic Institutions, ACT Quality Assurance Manager, the Wave Test
and Evaluation Technical Advisory Committee and members of the leading government
agencies; National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), National Weather Service (NWS), U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Joint Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology
(JCOMM), researchers, scientists and resource managers with expertise in wave measurements,
as well as representatives from each of the participating wave sensor manufacturers.
The following protocols are based on recommendations and consensus achieved at this
workshop and is written based on other successful ACT testing efforts. However, it is important
to note that at the time of drafting this protocol, ACT has not been allocated the resources to
implement a wave measurement systems evaluation, but this basic framework is intended to be
applicable to be utilized by others interested in quantifying the performance of wave
measurement systems.
2.0 Background on ACT Evaluations
Instrument performance verification is necessary to enable effective, existing technologies to be
recognized and for promising new technologies to be made available in support of coastal
science, resource management and the long-term development of IOOS. ACT has therefore been
established to provide an unbiased, third party “test bed” for evaluating new and developing
coastal sensors and sensor platforms for use in coastal, freshwater, and open ocean environments.
The following protocols describe how ACT would verify the environmental performance
characteristics of commercial-ready, in situ, wave measurement systems through the evaluation
of objective and quality assured data. The goal of this proposed evaluation program is to provide
technology users with an independent and credible assessment of system performance in a
variety of environments. Therefore, the data and information on performance characteristics will
cover legitimate information that users need. ACT would not simply verify vendor claims, but
instead will look to the broader community to define the data and operational parameters that are
valuable in guiding instrument purchase and deployment decisions.
It is important to note that ACT does not certify technologies or guarantee that a technology will
always, or under circumstances other than those used in testing, operate at the levels verified.
ACT does not seek to determine regulatory compliance; does not rank technologies or compare