Vineyard Wind and Charles River Analytics announced a new collaboration to protect marine mammals during the construction of the Vineyard Wind 1 project, the first full-scale offshore wind farm in the US.
As part of the effort, Vineyard Wind will employ Awarion technology for marine mammal, ship, and fishing gear detection. The technology is being provided by Charles River Analytics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based research and development firm.
Awarion is an artificial intelligence and computer vision system that complements and supports human lookouts and marine radar systems. The technology uses electro-optical and infrared video to detect, analyze, and report on the presence of whales, ships, and other objects, including fishing buoys and equipment, at long distances.
Object detection and avoidance are critical to the successful construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind projects
said Elaine B. Coleman, Ph.D., Vice President of Commercialization at Charles River Analytics.
Vineyard Wind, an 800-megawatt project located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, will generate electricity for more than 400,000 homes and businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million metric tons per year.
