University of Bath KTP Programme
Seiche Measurements Ltd
PROJECT ENGINEER (UNDERWATER ACOUSTICS)
The Company
Seiche Measurements Limited are recognised as international experts in
passive acoustic monitoring and sound and vibration engineering. They
undertake a wide range of underwater sound measurement tasks including
wildlife impact studies and equipment evaluation.
Seiche are at the forefront of providing cetacean monitoring for the oil, gas
and associated geological industries and vibration reduction equipment for a
wide range of tool applications in civil engineering.
Partnership rationale
Marine mammal mitigation during seismic surveys is currently limited to either
surface sightings of the animals or detection of their vocalisations underwater.
This two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Seiche
Measurements Ltd and the Department of Physics at the University of Bath
will greatly improve current strategies by using the higher-frequency
components of seismic sources to detect cetaceans at different ranges,
beyond those currently used. Forming part of a much broader project, it will
enable the detection of non-vocalising animals remaining underwater, their
tracking and ideally the imaging of large internal organs as they respond (or
not) to seismic activities.
Partnership objectives
Seiche’s involvement in wildlife impact studies is based on acoustic
measurements requiring fundamental understanding of the propagation and
scattering of acoustic waves underwater.
Seismic airgun arrays produce most of their energy between 1 Hz and 1 kHz,
but a significant portion is still emitted between1 kHz and 100 kHz. This
project will be the first to use this energy as a “source of opportunity” to detect
scattering from large marine mammals.
This project will produce the first automated identification of cetaceans within
the area affected by seismic airguns, and the 3D/4D analysis of their
movements in response to seismic activity. At specific frequencies and
ranges, the project will provide information about their lungs and other large
organs. These additional parameters will aid wildlife impact monitoring and
general biological studies.
Combining physical modelling of the acoustic fields with a unique adaptive
dual-grid inverse reconstruction technique (developed at the University of
Bath) will provide Seiche a considerable technological advantage, refining
marine mammal studies and noise mitigation approaches and will contribute
to further marine mammal studies and refinement of mitigation approaches
Partnership management
The KTP Project is delivered by an Associate and is managed through the
Local Management Committee (LMC). This is chaired by the senior company
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executive and comprises the Company and Academic leaders/supervisors
and a KTP Advisor (Technology Strategy Board representative). The LMC
meets every four months and is responsible for programme direction,
ensuring that all parties gain maximum benefit and for authorising
expenditure.
Associates are expected to prepare an executive summary, to report on
progress for the LMC meeting and this must be circulated in advance to LMC
members. They are also expected to make a formal presentation on some
aspects of their work at this meeting.
A monthly progress meeting is held with the Company and Academic
Supervisors. The Associate is expected to arrange and document these
meetings. The Associate is required to maintain a log of the tangible benefits
of the project and to provide internal seminars for other members of University
and Company staff, based on knowledge acquired through attendance at
courses and conferences.
During Year 2 of the project, another Associate will start working on the
reconstruction techniques, in liaison with the first Associate. It is intended
there will be a close collaboration between the two Associates working on this
KTP, each coming with a distinct set of skills and each having specific
objectives.
Associate profile
A PhD or DEng in Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering or another
appropriate subject for example applied mathematics, with significant project
work. The ideal applicant will have previous industrial or research project
experience in physics/signal processing and a background in
electromagnetism/acoustics.
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to lead and facilitate technical
development and be design- and product-oriented. They must be good
communicators, both written and verbal. They should possess a desire to
control their own project and follow through without continual supervision.
They must show the maturity to fit in and turn their hand to the requirements
arising in a small engineering company.
Specifically, they will need to process the acoustic data from existing and
future field datasets, identifying the key characteristics of highly variable
seismic sources and designing innovative techniques to detect likely cetacean
scattering events in a complex and dynamic environment. Technically, this
requires a strong knowledge of the underlying physics, of signal processing
and either the knowledge or the ability to quickly assess the most promising
methods.
Associate’s expectation
The Associate will have the opportunity to pursue a higher degree as a
member of staff of the University. Bath provides an MPhil in Knowledge
Transfer specifically for KTP Associates, or another higher degree offered by
the Department of Physics may be appropriate.
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The Associate will be encouraged to gain membership of a relevant
professional body to enable them to work towards Chartered status. They
may undertake several selected course activities as well as general courses
at the University as a member of staff.
Within the limits of commercial confidentiality, the Associate will have the
opportunity to deliver papers at conferences and will be expected to co-author
articles.
On successful completion of the project, it is likely that the Associate will be
offered a permanent position with the company. However, if due to
unforeseen circumstances this is not possible, the Associate will still have
acquired invaluable commercial experience through close involvement with
the senior management of the company. Experience of project management
will be gained, as well as knowledge of the daily running of a successful
international business. Furthermore the Associate will develop expertise in all
aspects of remote sensing systems that will enhance future employment
prospects
Salary and conditions of employment
The salary is £25,000 - £28,500 pa depending on qualifications and
experience and the reward package includes a pension contribution and
separate £4,000 personal training and development budget.
The Associate will be appointed by the University as a member of staff with
the Department of Physics, responsible to the appointed academic supervisor.
The contract of employment is for 24 months. There is a probationary period
of six months, during which time the contract may be terminated by either side
with one month’s notice. Thereafter, the required notice period to be given by
either side is three months. The University requires a mid-probationary report
after three months and a full probationary report at six months.
In other respects the Associate will be treated as a company employee. Work
will mainly take place at the Company’s premises at Holsworthy in Devon.
However the project may require some periods of time to be spent at the
University. The conditions of work, including work hours and holiday
entitlement, will be those applying to Company employees. An appraisal is
carried out at six months with the Academic and Company Supervisors. This
is used to identify the Associate’s training requirements in relation to
programme tasks and their personal development plan. There will be a
further appraisal at eighteen months.
Whilst there is no commitment on the company to retain the Associate at the
end of the programme, it is expected that the Associate will be made aware of
future prospects at their 18-month appraisal. KTP appointments cannot
normally be extended beyond the end of the project.
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