SubC Imaging explains that unique technological challenges in underwater imaging have driven the development of advanced methods for content delivery and data processing.
As underwater exploration, marine research, and offshore energy operations expand, ensuring reliable and efficient access to subsea imagery remains a priority. Two key solutions have emerged to enhance this reliability: cloud content delivery networks (CDNs) and edge architecture.
These technologies play a critical role in optimizing content distribution, processing, and reducing latency, making them essential components of SubC Imaging’s Remote Operations solutions.
While they share some similarities, they also have distinct differences in their applications within subsea imaging systems. Understanding these differences and their respective benefits is key when selecting the most suitable approach for subsea imaging, audio, and data applications.
This article examines the roles, advantages, and considerations of CDNs and edge architecture in subsea imaging.
A cloud content delivery network (CDN) is a system of globally distributed servers designed to efficiently deliver web content such as images, videos, and files to users. By strategically placing these servers in different locations, CDNs help reduce latency and improve content delivery performance.
CDNs also enhance scalability, balance network loads, and provide security features, making them essential for applications that require seamless content distribution and high availability.
CDNs in Subsea Imaging
CDNs contribute significantly to the efficient distribution of underwater imagery. Key benefits include:
Faster Content Delivery
Subsea imaging frequently involves capturing high-resolution video and images in demanding underwater environments. The primary factor affecting latency is the transmission of video and data from offshore locations to onshore facilities. Selecting a server within the appropriate geographic region helps minimize unnecessary transmission delays and speeds up access to content.
Global Availability
With servers positioned across different locations worldwide, CDNs bring subsea imagery closer to end-users, regardless of their location. This global distribution reduces network congestion and latency, ensuring that users in different regions can quickly and reliably access underwater imaging data.
Scalability & Load Management
Subsea imaging projects often produce significant amounts of data, especially when multiple underwater cameras or sensors operate simultaneously. CDNs enhance scalability by handling increased traffic during peak usage. By distributing data loads across multiple servers, CDNs ensure that subsea imagery can be accessed by numerous users and applications simultaneously.
Reliability & Redundancy
Underwater imaging applications require uninterrupted access to visual data. CDNs improve reliability by storing multiple copies of content across their networks. If one server experiences technical issues, requests are automatically rerouted to other available servers, maintaining continuous access to subsea imagery.
Security Enhancements
CDNs also provide security features that protect subsea imaging data. These include SSL/TLS encryption for secure transmission, access controls, and DDoS mitigation strategies to prevent service disruptions caused by cyberattacks.
Edge Architecture in Subsea Imaging
Edge architecture enhances subsea imaging through real-time data processing, bandwidth optimization, autonomous operations, and system resilience.
Real-Time Processing
Subsea imaging often requires immediate data analysis for rapid decision-making. By deploying edge computing resources near imaging devices – such as underwater cameras or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) – data can be processed locally.
This reduces the need to transmit large volumes of information to a central cloud infrastructure, minimizing latency and enabling quick responses to changing underwater conditions.
Bandwidth Optimization
Transmitting high-resolution subsea imagery to a centralized cloud infrastructure can be bandwidth-intensive, especially in remote offshore environments. Edge architecture allows for preliminary data processing and compression at the edge devices before transmission, reducing the overall volume of data sent over the network. This ensures efficient use of bandwidth and minimizes transmission delays.
Autonomous Operations
Edge architecture supports real-time autonomy in subsea imaging. By enabling decision-making processes on edge devices, underwater vehicles and ocean imaging systems can function independently. Tasks such as object detection, navigation, and path planning can be executed on-site, allowing for adaptive responses to dynamic underwater environments without continuous reliance on cloud-based infrastructure.
Resilience & Redundancy
Maintaining a stable network connection to centralized cloud systems can be challenging in offshore environments. Edge architecture enhances reliability by allowing data processing and storage at the edge, ensuring continuous operation even if connectivity is temporarily lost. This reduces dependence on stable network conditions and enhances system resilience.
By enabling real-time processing, optimizing bandwidth use, supporting autonomous operations, and improving resilience, edge architecture provides a robust solution for subsea imaging applications.
Cloud CDNs vs. Edge Architecture
The differences between cloud content delivery networks (CDNs) and edge architecture are crucial when applied to subsea imaging. CDNs optimize content distribution using globally dispersed servers, simplifying access to imaging data without requiring complex server management.
This cloud-based approach eliminates the need for extensive hardware installation, allowing users to focus on imagery analysis rather than server maintenance.
Conversely, edge architecture involves setting up servers near the end-users or within the operational environment. While this approach reduces latency and offers greater control over data processing, it requires more resources for server setup and maintenance. Choosing between CDNs and edge architecture depends on the specific needs of a subsea imaging project.
Cloud CDNs for Remote Monitoring
CDNs are particularly effective for remote monitoring applications, where multiple users from different locations need real-time access to imaging data. By routing video, audio, and data streams through the nearest CDN hub, latency is minimized, ensuring fast access and a seamless viewing experience. 
Edge Architecture for Localized Processing
Edge architecture is ideal for applications requiring immediate processing of subsea imaging data. By keeping video, audio, and data within a local network, processing occurs closer to the source, reducing latency and enabling rapid analysis. This is especially beneficial for applications such as underwater robotics, marine research, and environmental monitoring.
Edge Architecture for Remote Piloting
For remote piloting operations, edge architecture offers distinct advantages by reducing latency. Running a dedicated edge server near the pilots allows for minimal transmission delays, ensuring real-time responsiveness and precise control. This localized processing enhances efficiency in remote piloting tasks, enabling pilots to make accurate decisions without significant lag.
Combining CDN & Edge Architecture for Underwater Inspections
In some cases, a hybrid approach combining CDNs and edge architecture is beneficial. CDNs enable efficient global distribution of live video feeds and sensor data from underwater sites, ensuring low-latency access for remote users. Meanwhile, edge architecture facilitates localized data processing, minimizing latency and enabling real-time insights. This combination optimizes both content delivery and data analysis, making it particularly useful for remote underwater inspections.
