Developing methods for an exact measurement of an ocean wave is the core of Thomas Kabel’s PhD study. The aim of the study is to make an exact illustration of an ocean wave by using a new LIDAR measurement technique.
Measuring ocean waves is a complex process. The contemporary techniques used to measure often don’t provide an exact form of an ocean wave, but only an approximation. Furthermore, when producing statistics from ocean wave measurements, it is based only on a single point. However, offshore platforms are large structures, often covering an area with many waves, tells Thomas Kabel, PhD student at Aarhus University. In his study, the starting point is to show how a new LIDAR technique, developed by the former MÆRSK Oil, now Total, is able to give an exact measurement of an ocean wave.
“We would like the project to show that by utilizing 3D measurements of waves, we can further the advancement of ocean wave measuring. Achieve this, will make us be able to, for the first time, show how real waves are”, says Thomas Kabel about the project’s main goal. He continues, “We plan to create models that can be used by the offshore industry to create better designs of structures, along with setting the standard for how ocean waves should be measured in the future”.
Thomas finished his Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering from Aarhus University in 2016. After working on smaller projects for the Danish Hydrocarbon Research and Technology Centre, Thomas began his PhD project in the summer of 2017, under supervision of DHRTC and Professor Christos Georgakis at Aarhus University.
If you are interested in learning more about Thomas' project take a look at this interview.