Reducing the Impact of Ship Noise on Marine Mammals

Human shipping operations have increased significantly in the past few decades.  While that means international trade and cheap goods for humans, it also means the ocean has experienced an increase in noise pollution.  This has a measurable negative impact on marine mammals and other aquatic life.  Could mathematics be the solution?  This interview explores how optimization techniques can guide voyage optimization in a way that handles multiple optimization objectives including fuel cost and sound reduction.

Guest

Akash Venkateshwaran: I am Akash Venkateshwaran, a graduate student at UBC, Vancouver. My research focuses on developing technologies to mitigate anthropogenic noise from marine activities. Specifically, I work on smart decision support systems for ship navigation to provide sustainable and quiet operation conditions. Utilizing data-driven modeling and machine learning techniques, we simulate the ocean environment, involving noise generation and propagation models, as well as ocean environment and mammal trajectory models. My goal is to create innovative solutions that ensure eco-friendly and efficient maritime operations while protecting marine life from noise pollution.