Technology
Evaluations

ACT conducts two levels of Technology Evaluations: Verifications and Demonstrations. Technology Verifications focus on classes of commercially available instruments to provide confirmation that each technology meets the manufacturer's performance specifications or claims and/or provides verified data on those operational parameters that stakeholders require to make a use decision. Verifications are a 25-step process, which includes community consensus on test protocols, laboratory and field-testing, and QA/QC based on EPA and ISO guidelines. Field tests are carried out at no fewer than four but typically all six ACT partner sites. Technology Demonstrations involve fewer steps and focus on highlighting the capabilities and potential of pre-commercial or emerging early-stage technologies, building user awareness, and facilitating technology maturation and transition into operational observing. Working closely with developers, Demonstration field tests may be conducted at only two or three Partner sites, depending on stakeholder priority needs.

ACT Technology Evaluations also are open and transparent, free of charge for all applicants with appropriate instrumentation, and all results are released to the public in final reports. However, ACT and its Partner Institutions do not certify or guarantee performance of technologies, nor does ACT rank or directly compare the individual instruments tested.

Request for Technologies and Current Evaluations

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Instrument performance demonstrations and verifications are necessary so that effective existing technologies can be recognized, and promising new technologies can become available to support coastal science, resource management, and ocean observing systems. To this end, ACT serves as an unbiased, third party testbed for evaluating sensors and platforms for use in coastal and ocean environments.

Request for Technologies and Current Evaluations

HYDROCARBON pH DISSOLVED OXYGEN II
pC02 SALINITY NUTRIENT
TURBIDITY FLUOROMETER DISSOLVED OXYGEN
ALGAL TOXINS FLUOROMETER II NUTRIENT II
TRO    

ACT Code Document Name File Size
Algal Tox Detailed Protocols used for the Demonstration of Algal Toxin Field Sensors and Kits 363k
ACT DS20-04 Performance Demonstration Statement for the MBio HAB Toxin MC/CYN Gen1 System 6.7mb
ACT DS20-05 Performance Demonstration Statement for the Beacon Field Tube Kit 8.1mb
ACT DS20-06 Performance Demonstration Statement for the Phytoxigene DinoDTec and CyanoDTec Quantitative PCR Kits 9.1mb
Technical Advisory Committee:
Dr. Joel Allen, EPA
Dr. Dianne Greenfield, USC
Dr. Meredith Howard, SCCWRP
Dr. Keith Loftin, USGS

ACT Code Document Name File Size
TRO Detailed Protocols used for the Verification Total Residual Oxidant Analyzers 321k
ACT VS20-01 Performance Verification Statement for the Halogen SWN-P TRO Sensor 2.7mb
ACT VS20-02 Performance Verification Statement for the HF Scientific SSR-Ex TRO Monitor 4.9mb
ACT VS20-03 Performance Verification Statement for the XYLEM 9017 TRO Analyzer 3.8mb
Technical Advisory Committee:
Richard Everett, USCG
Ray Frederick, EPA
James Jensen, University at Buffalo, SUNY
Carolyn Juemann, MARAD
Gail Roderick, USCG, MARAD

ACT Code Document Name File Size
FLOW Detailed Protocols used for the Verification Multi-spectral Fluorometers 1.3mb
ACT VS19-01 Performance Verification Statement for the BBE Fluorometer 6.6mb
ACT VS19-02 Performance Verification Statement for the Cyano_Fluormeter_Verification_Repor 4.9mb
ACT VS19-03 Performance Verification Statement for the PhytoFind Fluorometer 6.2mb
ACT VS19-04 Performance Verification Statement for the JFE_Fluorometer 6.4mb
Technical Advisory Committee:
Brian Bergamaschi, USGS
Thomas Bridgeman, University of Toledo
Christopher Gobler, Stony Brook University
Mary Jane Perry, University of Maine
Alan Wilson, Auburn University.

ACT Code Document Name File Size
NSC Detailed Protocols used for Verification Testing of Next-Generation Nutrient Sensors are available for download here 450k
ACT VS17-01 Performance Verification Statement for the Systea WIZ Probe Nitrate Analyzer 4.3mb
ACT VS17-02 Performance Verification Statement for the Systea WIZ Probe Phosphate Analyzer 4.8mb
ACT VS17-03 Performance Verification Statement for the NOC Nitrate Analyzer 5.3mb
ACT VS17-04 Performance Verification Statement for the NOC Phosphate Analyzer 6.3mb
ACT VS17-05 Performance Verification Statement for the Real Tech Real Nitrate Analyzer GL Series 5.8mb
ACT VS17-06 Performance Verification Statement for Sea-Bird Scientific HydroCycle-Phosphate Analyzer 4.1mb
Technical Advisory Committee:
Dr. Suzanne Bricker, NOAA
Dr. Matt Cohen, University of Florida
Dr. Chris Gross, USDA
Dr. R. David Holbrook, NIST
Dr. Brian Pellerin, USCG
Dr. Joe Rudek, Environmental Defense Fund
Dr. Dwane Young, US EPA

ACT Code Document Name File Size
BWF Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of variable fluorescent fluorometers for ballast water compliance monitoring are available for download 515k
ACT VS17-07 Performance Verification Statement for the 10Cells (BBE Moldaenke) 1.7mb
ACT VS17-08 * Performance Verification Statement for the Ballast-Check 2 Version: 2015 (Turner Designs) 1.3mb
ACT VS17-09 * Performance Verification Statement for the Ballast-Check 2 Handheld PAM Fluorometer Version: 2016 (Turner Designs) 1.0mb
ACT VS17-10 * Performance Verification Statement for the BW680 Fluorometer (Hach) 2.7mb
ACT VS17-11 Performance Verification Statement for the Chelsea Technologies Group FastBallast Fluorometer 1.1mb
ACT VS17-12 * Performance Verification Statement for the Xylem YSI Ballast Water Discharge Monitor 3.0mb
UPDATE * Updated on 10 August 2017 to correct an error on figure legends.  
BW Fluorometry Technical Advisory Committee
Dr. Samuel Laney, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Dr. Beth Stauffer, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Dr. Rich Everett, US Coast Guard
Dr. Ryan Albert, US Environmental Protection Agency
Dr. Carolyn Junemann, US Maritime Administration



ACT Code Document Name File Size
DOII Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of in situ dissolved oxygen sensors are available for download 386k
ACT VS16-01 Performance Verification Statement for the JFE AROUSB AND AROW-USB Dissolved Oxygen Sensors 4.3mb
ACT VS16-02 Performance Verification Statement for the Precision Measurement Engineering miniDOT Dissolved Oxygen Sensors 5.4mb
ACT VS16-03 Performance Verification Statement for the Sea-Bird Scientific HydroCAT Dissolved Oxygen Sensors 6.5mb
ACT VS16-04 Performance Verification Statement for the HOBO U26 Dissolved Oxygen Sensors 9.7mb
ACT VS16-05 Performance Verification Statement for the Hach Hydrolab DS5X and HL4 Dissolved Oxygen Sensors 3.3mb
ACT VS16-06 Performance Verification Statement for the XYLEM EXO2 Dissolved Oxygen Sensor 4.9mb
ACT VS16-07 Performance Verification Statement for theIn-Situ Troll 9000 Rugged Dissolved Oxygen Sensor 3.7mb
DO Sensors II Technical Advisory Committee
Dr. Erik Smith, Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences
Ms. Janice Fulford, U.S. Geological Survey
Dr. Henry Bittig, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Mr. Steve Ruberg, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory


ACT Code Document Name File Size
pH Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of in situ pH sensors are available for download 307k
Needs & Use Customer Needs and Use Assessments (CNUA) of pH Sensors 666k
ACT VS15-01 Performance Verification Statement for the Campbell Scientific Instruments pH Sensor 4.3mb
ACT VS15-02  Performance Verification Statement for the Eureka Manta2 pH Sensor 3.7mb
ACT VS15-03 Performance Verification Statement for the Idronaut 305 Plus CTD pH Sensor 2.6mb
ACT VS15-04 Performance Verification Statement for the In-Situ Troll 9500 pH Sensor 4.3mb
ACT VS15-05  Performance Verification Statement for the Satlantic SeaFET pH Sensor 3.9mb
ACT VS15-06  Performance Verification Statement for the Sunburst SAMI-pH Sensor 5.4mb
ACT VS15-07  Performance Verification Statement for the Xylem EXO 2 pH Sensor 6.7mb
pH Sensors Technical Advisory Committee
Dr. Robert Byrne, University of South Florida; Dr. Andrew Dickson (Chair), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego; Dr. Burke Hales, Oregon State University, Mr. Scott McLean, Oceans Networks Canada, University of Victoria; Dr. Kenneth Pratt, National Institute of Standards and Technology; Dr. Chris Sabine, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory; Dr. Simone Alin, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory; Dr. Rik Wanninkhof, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

ACT Code Document Name File Size
Hydrocarbon Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of in situ hydrocarbon sensors are available for download 450k
Needs & Use Customer Needs and Use Assessments (CNUA) of Hydrocarbon Sensors 889k
ACT VS12-02 Performance Verification Statement for the Chelsea UviLux Fluorometer 9.3mb
ACT VS12-01 Performance Verification Statement for the Chelsea UV Aquatracka Fluorometer 10.6.mb
ACT VS12-04 Performance Verification Statement for the Hach FP 360 sc Fluorometer 9mb
  Performance Verification Statement for the S::can Spectometer  
ACT VS12-03 Performance Verification Statement for the Turner C3 Fluorometer 17.3mb
ACT VS12-05 Performance Verification Statement for the Wetlabs ECO FLCDRTD-1929 Fluorometer 7.5mb
Hydrocarbon Sensors Technical Advisory Committee
Brian Bergamashi, USGS; Emmanuel Boss, University of Maine; Paula Cobble,  University of South Florida; Kjell Gundersen, University of Southern Mississippi; Paul Kepkay, Bedford Institute of Oceanography (Canada); Scott Pegau, Alaska Oil Spill Recovery Institute; Michelle Woods, NOAA-AOML

ACT Code Document Name File Size
pC02 Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of pCO2 analyzers are available for download 193k
ACT DS10-01 Performance Demonstration Statement for Contros HydroCTM/CO2 1.7mb
ACT DS10-02 Performance Demonstration Statement for PMEL MAPCO2/Battelle Seaology pCO2 Monitoring System 2.1mb
ACT TD10-03 Performance Demonstration Statement for Pro-Oceanus Systems Inc. PSI CO2-Pro 2.1mb
ACT DS10-04 Performance Demonstration Statement for Sunburst Sensors SAMI-CO2 2.6mb
ACT VS09-04 Advancing moored pCO2 instrumentation in coastal waters. 2011, Marine Technology Society Journal 45(2): 43-51. 2.6mb
pCO2 Analyzers Technical Advisory Committee
Eric DeCarlo, University of Hawaii; Allan Devol, University of Washington; Andrew Dickson, Scripps Institute of Oceanography; Burke Hales, Oregon State University; Arne Kortzinger, Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences (Germany); Jan Newton, University of Washington; Chris Sabine, NOAA-PMEL; Rik Wanninkhof, NOAA-AOML

ACT Code Document Name File Size
Salinity Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of salinity sensors are available for download 340k
Performance Verification Statement for the Aanderaa Data Instruments 4319 6.9mb
ACT VS09-02 Performance Verification Statement for the Campbell Scientific CS547A and OBS-3A Probes 7.4mb
ACT VS09-03 Performance Verification Statement for the FSI NXIC-CTD-BIO-AUTO 7.5mb
ACT VS09-04 Performance Verification Statement for the Greenspan EC3000 Conductivity Sensor 6.8mb
ACT VS09-05 Performance Verification Statement for th In-Situ Inc. Aqua TROLL 200 Sonde 7mb
ACT VS09-06 Performance Verification Statement for the JFE ALEC CTW and CTW-FS 7.1mb
ACT VS09-07 Performance Verification Statement for the RBR XR-420 and XR-620 CTD 7.3mb
ACT VS09-08 Performance Verification Statement for the YSI 6-series sonde 7.3mb
Needs & Use Customer Needs and Use Assessments (CNUA) of In Situ Salinity Sensors 7.3mb
Salinity Sensors Technical Advisory Committee
Earle Buckley, North Carolina State University; Kjell Gundersen, University of Southern Mississippi; Robert Millard, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; Geoff Morrison, International SeaKeepers

ACT Code Document Name File Size
Nutrient Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of in situ nutrient analyzers are available for download 588k
Performance Demonstration Statement for the American Ecotech NUT 1000 1.1mb
ACT TD08-02 Performance Demonstration Statement for the Satlantic ISUS V3 Nitrate Sensor 2.3mb
ACT TD08-03 Performance Demonstration Statement for the WET Labs Cycle-P Nutrient Analyzer 1.8mb
ACT TD08-04 Performance Demonstration Statement for the YSI 9600 Nitrate Monitor 1.4mb
Needs & Use Customer Needs and Use Assessments (CNUA) of In Situ Nutrient Sensors 2005 7.3mb
Needs & Use Customer Needs and Use Assessments (CNUA) of In Situ Nutrient 2 Sensors 2009 3.7mb
Nutrient Analyzer Technical Advisory Committee
Patrick Anderson, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Earle Buckley, North Carolina State University; Lou Codispoti, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science; Chris D’Elia, University of South Florida; Jan Newton, University of Washington

ACT Code Document Name File Size
Turbidity Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of in situ turbidity sensors are available for download 464k
TSS/POC Determination of TSS and POC Blank Corrections 116k
ACT TV07-01 Performance Verification Statement for the Aquatec Turbidity Sensor 1.9mb
ACT TV07-02 Performance Verification Statement for the In-Situ Turbidity Sensor 1.5mb
ACT TV07-03 Performance Verification Statement for the McVan Turbidity Sensor 1.5mb
ACT TV07-04 Performance Verification Statement for the Wet Labs Turbidity Sensor 1.3mb
ACT TV07-05 Performance Verification Statement for the YSI Turbidity Sensor 1.6mb
Needs & Use Customer Needs and Use Assessments (CNUA) of In Situ Turbidity Sensors 7.3mb
Publication Comparison of inherent optical properties as a surrogate for particulate matter concentration in coastal waters. 2009, Limnology and Oceanography Methods 7: 803-810. 2.4mb
Turbidity Sensor Technical Advisory Committee
Emmanuel Boss, University of Maine; Earle Buckley, North Carolina State University; June Harrigan, Hawaii Department of Health and Environmental Planning; Nathan Hawley, NOAA Great lakes Environmental Research Laboratory; W. Scott Pegau, Kachemak Bay Research Reserve; Paul Pennington, NOAA Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research

ACT Code Document Name File Size
Fluorometer Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of in situ chlorophyll fluorometers is available for download 892k
HPLC Chl HPLC Chlorophyll Processing for the ACT Performance Verification of in situ fluorometers is available for download 88k
ACT TV06-01 Performance Verification Statement for the BBE Fluorometer 1mb
ACT VT06-02 Performance Verification Statement for the Chelsea Aqua Fluoro 3.4mb
ACT VT06-03 Performance Verification Statement for the Chelsea Mini Fluoro 3.2mb
ACT VT06-04 Performance Verification Statement for the Hydrolab Fluoro 1.7mb
ACT VT06-05 Performance Verification Statement for the Turner Cyclops Fluoro 1.8mb
ACT VT06-06 Performance Verification Statement for the Turner Scufa Fluoro 2.7mb
ACT VT06-07 Performance Verification Statement for the Wet Labs Fluoro 2.8mb
ACT TV06-08 Performance Verification Statement for the YSI Fluoro 2.6mb
Needs & Use Customer Needs and Use Assessments (CNUA) of In Situ Chlorophyll Fluorometers Sensors 7.3mb
Chlorophyll Fluorometer Technical Advisory Committee
John Cullen, Dalhousie University; Zbigniew Kolber, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute; Scott McLean, University of Victoria; Hugh MacIntyre, University of South Alabama; Jan Newton, University of Washington; Paul Pennington, NOAA Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research; Mary Jane Perry, University of Maine; Collin Roesler, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences; Nick Welschmeyer, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

ACT Code Document Name File Size
DO Sensors Detailed Testing Protocols used for evaluating the performance of in situ dissolved oxygen sensors is available for download 1.1mb
ACT VS04-01 Performance Verification Statement for the Aanderaa Instruments Inc. Dissolved Oxygen Optode 3830/3930/3835 1.3mb
ACT VS04-02 Performance Verification Statement for the Greenspan Technology Dissolved Oxygen Sensor DO300/DO1200 1.5mb
ACT VS04-03 Performance Verification Statement for the In-Situ Inc. Dissolved Oxygen RDO Sensor 1.4mb
ACT VS04-04 Performance Verification Statement for the YSI Inc. Rapid Pulse Dissolved Oxygen Sensor 1.3mb
Dissolved Oxygen Sensor Technical Advisory Committee,
Marlin Atkinson, University of Hawaii; Earle Buckley, North Carolina State University; Richard Burt, Chelsea Instruments; Scott McLean, Satlantic; Paul Pennington, NOAA Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research