Hohonu - Democratization of access to ocean observing technology
Hawaii, Alaska, California, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine – United States
Duration: Since 2020
Project coordinator: Hohonu Inc.
Classification
Risks
Solutions
Actors
Costs
Summary
Sea Level Rise (SLR), episodic flooding, and deteriorating water quality are among the most significant accelerating effects of climate change, and stakeholders around the world are figuring out how to protect themselves in the short- and the long-term.
Hohonu, Inc. was launched from a University of Hawaii oceanography research lab to provide affordable access to localized environmental data, which is necessary for resource management and threat mitigation on spatial scales that most affect communities. Hohonu has signed contracts with multiple divisions of NOAA, cities, counties, municipalities, non-profits, and commercial customers throughout the United States to deploy its real-time environmental sensor network in coastlines, rivers, streams, and aquaculture facilities.
Actions
Hohonu, Inc. was launched to provide affordable access to localized environmental data, which is necessary for resource management and threat mitigation on spatial scales that most affect communities. It provides hyperlocal flooding data with cost-effective sensor deployments and easy-to-use data access on a subscription basis at the cost of $3100/year/site.
The units are easy to install, solar powered to allow 24/7 water monitoring and surveyed to standardize the data sets.
Once the sensors are installed, users can see local and nearby real-time data as well as projections on an online dashboard to inform their decisions and planning. Concrete applications include road closure decision-making, emergency response management and long-term resilience planning.
Outcomes
Hohonu has signed contracts with multiple divisions of NOAA, cities, counties, municipalities, non-profits, and commercial customers throughout the United States to deploy its real-time environmental sensor network in coastlines, rivers, streams, and aquaculture facilities. To date, 54 municipalities throughout the southeast U.S. have already contacted Hohonu’s services for monitoring hyperlocal water levels. Hohonu is in the final stages of closing its pre-seed funding round and ready to expand to new markets and offer new services.
Partnering with NOAA is essential to better understand the impacts of sea level rise on water levels and provide more accurate projections.
The units are affordable, easy to install, solar powered to allow 24/7 water monitoring and surveyed to standardize the data sets.
Municipalities using the sensors are better equipped and prepared to provide appropriate emergency response during floods. Meanwhile, environmental consulting firms are also using the sensors to precisely measure the impact of their coastal restoration projects.