Integrating Cloud Services for Real-Time Wave Buoy Array Monitoring and Data Management

The Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) is an operational wave monitoring and prediction program based at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. CDIP maintains an array of Datawell™ Waverider directional wave buoys in US and territorial waters. Primary funding is provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers, with additional funding from the State of California, the U.S. Navy, various federal agencies, and the private sector. In recent years, collaborations with NOAA’s regional Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) programs have further expanded the CDIP array, which now exceeds 70 buoy stations.

Highly reliable data acquisition is important for CDIP's sponsors and stakeholders, and is critical for monitoring the buoy array. To this end, the emerging availability of cloud computing services prompted CDIP to overhaul its data processing, metadata handling, and web hosting infrastructure. Cloud based services are now utilized in conjunction with local servers, providing new opportunities to optimize the data network for speed, reliability, and operating costs. CDIP has adopted the strategy of using Amazon Web Services™ (AWS) as a platform for Docker® containers and service management tools, which provide a single rubric for managing all services. CDIP data and metadata dissemination is now handled via the THREDDS data service and Django™ REST API, respectively, and a new CDIP website was built utilizing Django™ Web Framework.

These forward-looking upgrades are being continually advanced to enhance, streamline, and fortify CDIP’s data management capabilities.