Research Highlights
Research Interests
Investigating the use of uncrewed autonomous systems for observing changes in hurricane intensity.
The use of data mining/machine learning solutions to manage and process growing databases at AOML.
Diego Ugaz
Electrical Engineer (University of Miami/CIMAS), Physical Oceanography Division
305.361.4335
4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149
“The successful operation of oceanographic instruments, observation systems, and development of new technologies is critical to ensuring quality data observations for the scientific community to use.”
Diego is an Electrical Engineer at the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Science (CIMAS) and NOAA-AOML’s Physical Oceanography Division. He works on various projects in the Physical Oceanography Division at AOML providing technical support to ensure high quality oceanographic observations for scientific research. Diego’s roles include participating in deployment/recovery operations, embedded software development, hardware design/verification, and maintenance of various scientific observation systems.
Position summary:
Develops megaAVR prototype systems in hardware and firmware for expendable oceanography sensors
Designs and delivers schematic and PCB layouts for manufacturing of radiometer and temperature sensors
Performs instrument maintenance, calibration, deployment and recovery operations during research cruises aboard federal and university vessels for oceanography data collection
Creates software data tools to validate instruments deployed out in the Atlantic Ocean
Outlines operation requirements for unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) systems for aerial/marine use
Current Work
Technical Support for the following PhOD projects:
● PIRATA Northeast Extension
● Western Boundary Time Series
● XBT
● Hurricane Glider
2015, B.S. Electrical Engineering: Digital Signal Processing concentration, University of Miami, FL
2019, Graduate studies in Machine Learning, Data Mining, Hardware Design, University of Miami, FL
MET Weather Station (testing/prototyping)
Radiometer (prototyping hardware/firmware)
XBT Autolauncher (PCB/schematic revision/maintenance)
Glider Failure Analysis Tool (in development)
Part 107 Certification for Commercial Piloting of UAV/Drones
Ocean Observing Team Award (RAPID-MOCHA-WBTS 26°N Team) 2021
For transforming understanding of Atlantic circulation with a breakthrough in observing system design, providing continuous, cost-effective measurements.