🌊⚡️ The OFFSHORE Update for WindDesk Discover

We added three new map layers to WindDesk Discover. WindDesk Discover is a free no-login-required online prospecting tool for wind farms - link here for more information.

The three maps we added were bathymetry, shipping lanes and global ports. All of them are available on a global basis!

Bathymetry

Bathymetry maps are derived from the GEBCO 2020 gridded dataset. They have an ambitious mission to map the world's ocean floor by 2030 which is amazing. For offshore wind, the industry currently differentiates it as either a fixed bottom platform or a floating platform. Fixed bottom platforms at the moment are viable at up to 60m water depths (although this heavily depends on many other factors). Beyond 60m, floating platforms are used. Our map layer shows two key information - a) the bathymetry in 4 colors of ranges 0 to -30m, -30m to -60m, -60m to -90m and -90m to -500m and b) the contour lines up to -300m water depth at 10m intervals.

Shipping Lanes

Shipping lanes are based on AIS (Automatic Identification System) data. Although there are a few ship routeing maps, they are almost always outdated or extremely expensive. AIS data however reflects the actual historical paths taken by actual ships on an almost real-time basis. The downside is that AIS data is extremely noisy due to ships hovering near ports as they queue up to get in and out. Ships also drop signals frequently and you will see them "teleport" across the world as per the AIS data. Machine learning models have to be used to extract these clear gossamer strands of vessel movement.

Ports

Port data is taken straight from the World Port Index. It also further qualifies the port to two further classifications: harbor size and max vessel length.

Typhoon Paths

These are historical typhoon tracks colored on the Saffir Simpson scale. Definitely looks messy when you are zoomed out but when you zoom in, it looks much better. Regrettably it just shows the tracks but not the actual speed and qualities of the high intensity winds' impact within the cyclone's sphere of influence. But we have been working on this too in the background!

Feedback

We are missing a few pieces of the puzzle such as wave heights. Please drop us a note at discover@traverse.ai if you know of any good datasets, or you want to see other information. The feedback would be really appreciated.

Plug

If you prospected for a site on WindDesk Discover and would like to take it to the next stage, Traverse provides wind analysis, energy yield assessments, wind engineering and owner's engineer services. We have done over 10GW projects in various stages for IPPs, utilities and developers alike. Check out our website or drop me a line at thet@traverse.ai .