A French company specialised in underwater acoustics is looking for partners that need acoustics data analysis software

The French company has an experience of 6 years in the underwater acoustics field and is specialised in two areas: - the realisation of specific studies: ambient and ship radiated noise measurement, impact studies, detection and classification of sound sources. - the creation of acoustics data analysis software. Acoustic analyses are necessary and mandatory to reduce to the minimum work at sea impacts to protect marine life. Acoustics are a valuable tool for marine mammals to locate, feed and communicate. Exposure to loud sound can temporarily or permanently impair their hearing (even leading to death). Acoustic analyses are thus carried out for work at sea like Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) installation, port works and maintenance (dredging) and seismic prospection. They are made at several stage of the project: the reference state, the work monitoring and monitoring during operation for the MRE case. This analysis for different time intervals makes it possible to define a reference state before human disturbance and to quantify the maximum and long term impact. To date, the acoustic analyses have been carried out by an engineering office in data processing, which resulting in a delay between the works and the assessment of the acoustic level and creates dependency on a third party. Moreover, due to the high levels generated by some human activities at sea (underwater explosion or pile driving) a regulatory context has been established in order to protect ocean and marine life. To answer those specific needs and regulations, the French company proposed a software for acoustics data analysis and automatic regulatory report publishing software for non acousticians. Analysis is performed after acquisition (not in real-time). Data is recorded using a hydrophone and an underwater recorder (partner's own equipment, bought or rented). The software accepts all types of recorders. For impulsive noises, the software allows statistical analysis of the levels, the regulatory thresholds exceedings computation and the impact areas assessment. The ambient noise is monitored through the third octave bands spectrum computation and the Ambient Noise Level (ANL) statistical analysis. This assessment of acoustic levels is in agreement with the following regulations : European recommendations (MSFD), French recommendations, American regulations (NMFS) for marine mammals and fish, German regulations and Swedish regulations. A complete report is automatically published with possible customisation (adding texts, figures or tables). Multi-sessions analysis allows to compare data from several sessions, for example on both sides of a bubble curtain or recordings from multiple areas. A regulatory synthesis table concludes the report. The locally saved database containing the computed information allows the user to be autonomous and to save time with quick access to the previous results. Editing previous reports makes it easy to add new information to the report or a new edition in the event of a change in regulatory threshold. In addition, access to the previous value makes possible comparisons between different construction sites and to make an overall assessment of the activities on a specific zone or on all the activities for the time interval chosen as months or years. The company is looking for partners that need this new type of acoustics data analysis software, under a license agreement or a commercial agreement with technical support. The partner will use the software as a licensee and if needed the french company will provide technical assistance: help to use it, update, specific development. The partners are industrial (working on MRE installation, port works), engineering office (that wants to acquire new skills and optimise their analysis time) or institutionnal partners (research laboratory, region / municipality / marine park, organisation and association for the protection of aquatic life).