Sub Sea Monitoring

SCIMPI, short for Simple Cabled Instrument for Measuring Parameters In-Situ, is a modular seafloor borehole observatory used to monitor subsurface temperature, pressure, and resistivity over multi-year deployments. Ahead of Expedition 501, a joint NSF and IODP effort to monitor aquifer properties on the New England Shelf, the instrument required a full redesign to keep pace with modern sensor technology and manufacturing standards.

Reworked the internal packaging and sourcing to support modern sensors, then rebuilt the assembly process from the ground up, reconstructing missing documentation and hand-assembling and testing each unit before sealing the housings.

The redesigned SCIMPI units were deployed during Expedition 501 in August 2025. During deployment, a sensor module failure required an on-the-spot repair at sea. Drawing on hands-on familiarity with the internal design, I disassembled the affected module, removed the failed section, and completed repairs within hours, keeping the deployment on schedule.