Applied research and development for ocean technology, including advanced manufacturing and on-water testing of sensors, acoustics, electronics, energy, vessels and underwater vehicles.
SEATAC is a Technology Access Centre supporting the ocean sector through access to Nova Scotia Community College’s specialized equipment, facilities and subject matter expertise. Our engineers and technologists support every stage of ocean technology research and development from design to deploy. We leverage expertise in on-water operations, product design, prototyping, technology validation and process optimization to assist industry and community with innovative R&D projects.
SEATAC also collaborates on client projects with NSCC Applied Research areas including the Applied Geomatic Research Group (AGRG), Applied Energy Research (AER), Engineered Technologies Applied Research (ETAR) and Information Technology Applied Research (ITAR).
SEATAC offers applied research services via Nova Scotia Community College’s expertise and facilities, including:
- Field testing of marine equipment and instrumentation in real-world ocean conditions
- 3D design, modeling, prototyping and simulation
- Additive manufacturing (metals, polymers and composites)
- Advanced welding (arc processes)
- Manufacturing automation and robotics
- Manufacturing systems control, sensors and electromechanical systems
- Composite part manufacturing
- Composite tooling design and manufacturing
- Design of experiment and process optimization
- Industrial scale prototyping
- Laboratory/pilot scale prototyping
- Manufacturing process design and development
- Measurement, inspection and alignment
- Non-destructive inspection
- Performance monitoring and analysis
- Product design and development
- Reverse engineering
- Technology validation and transfer
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Manufacturing and processing
- Ocean industries
Specialized labs and equipment
- Marine research and instrument deployment: Conduct inshore and nearshore ocean research and deploy oceanographic instruments (Rosborough 9.11 m rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) and towed body system).
- Oceanographic surveying and underwater exploration: Conduct hydrographic and oceanographic surveys, seafloor mapping, coastal research and environmental monitoring (AML Oceanographic Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP), VideoRay Pro 3 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and OceanServer IVER2 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)).
- Water-column and oceanographic monitoring: Collect water samples; measure conductivity, temperature, depth, fluorescence, currents and waves; and monitor zooplankton and fish (Sea-Bird Scientific CTD rosette/carousel, Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) and Teledyne RD Instruments S100 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)).
- Marine sampling and equipment testing: Collect seafloor sediment samples and evaluate underwater equipment for watertightness and pressure resistance (Ocean Instruments SG-DX-20 Double Van Veen Grab and Global Scuba Pressure Test Chamber).
- Additive manufacturing: Produce metal, resin and continuous-fibre-reinforced components (Renishaw AM250 3D metal printer, Formlabs Form 2 stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer and Markforged Mark Two 3D printer).
- 3D scanning and robotic assembly: Capture detailed measurements for reverse engineering and product development and perform accurate, repeatable assembly (FARO ScanArm and robotic arm).
- CNC waterjet cutting: Cut sheet stock in a wide range of materials with repeatable precision (OMAX ProtoMAX CNC waterjet table).
Private and public sector research partners
- Engineered Technologies Applied Research Lab (Nova Scotia Community College)
- Applied Energy Research (Nova Scotia Community College)
- Applied Geomatics Research Group (Nova Scotia Community College)
- Information Technology Applied Research Lab (Nova Scotia Community College)
- Merinov
- National Research Council Canada
- Clearwater
- Biome Renewables
- Sensor Technology Ltd.