Connectivity framework for aquaculture IIoT platform selected

SHM is a global technology company in the maritime, offshore, and aquaculture industries providing advanced software to help aquaculture companies increase profitability and maximise operational efficiency in a sustainable way. RTI’s connectivity framework provides the data-centric architecture for the FiiZK platform, bringing fine-grained security, data integration and analysis to sustainable fish farming.

For the first time, aquaculture companies can gain advanced insight into their systems and drive intelligent business decisions. SHM is working with fish farming companies that are utilising many systems from different vendors. These include cameras to monitor the farm environment, sensors to measure the air or water temperature, multiple screens to track the data, factory operating equipment and more. As a result, sensors are bringing in large volumes of data which then must be integrated, managed and analysed. Additionally, it is imperative that the system is scalable, secure, and interoperable with other technology and that it meets government regulations.

However, the systems used today are manual and inefficient. Camera feeds are streamed to one control room, all data must be entered by hand, and errors are easily made that can affect both efficiency and profitability. To address the market void, SHM has launched the industry’s first IIoT platform, built on Connext DDS, which streamlines all system data into one location enabling fish farmers to focus on decision support.

SHM relies on Connext DDS to connect and integrate all components of the aquaculture system into a single architecture, replacing classic SCADA/PLC systems. With the FiiZK platform, fish farmers can integrate their systems with different vendors and access data without additional costs or purchasing more hardware.

Rune Volden, founder and R&D manager at SHM, stated: “The aquaculture industry is relying more and more heavily on data as it evolves. The government wants more information in order to pass safer regulations, companies want more data to make intelligent business decisions, and consumers want more reports on where their food came from and how it was farmed. We developed the FiiZK platform to give our customers easy access to this data and enable them to leverage the benefits of the IIoT. RTI Connext DDS was the ideal foundation for our platform because it’s the proven data connectivity standard for the IoT and the only technology able to solve complex technical challenges. We look forward to partnering with RTI as we continue to grow in the global aquaculture market.”

David Barnett, vice president of products and markets at RTI, added: “At RTI, our mission is to accelerate the Industrial IoT market and power the intelligent systems of our future. Whether that’s an autonomous vehicle, a connected hospital or a sustainable fish farm, we provide the connectivity framework that enables these systems to meet real-time technical requirements. We believe the FiiZK platform built on top of Connext DDS will be instrumental in the growth of the aquaculture ecosystem.”

As the industry evolves, SHM is looking to leverage additional IIoT technologies to improve the aquaculture ecosystem, such as leveraging micro satellites for wide-area surveillance, machine learning for real time data analysis, remote monitoring and preventative maintenance on the fish farms.