Geoscience Ireland (GI) is pleased to welcome Ronan O’ Toole, an experienced Chartered Marine Technologist to its Panel of Independent Experts. 

A graduate in Geology from the University of Galway with a MSc from Cranfiled University in Renewable Energy, Ronan  has been a leader in  marine data acquisition and marine spatial planning.

Having worked for Geological Survey Ireland on several marine projects  including INFOMAR, CHERISH, EMODnet and Coastal Erosion, he went on to become CTO with  Ondine Ltd, responsible for Design and implementation of IT and Data Management strategy. Prokjects included  the mobilization and operation of R.V. Kommandor Iona,Ondine Jule, Ondine Aer and Ondine Data Centre infrastructures;Oversight and delivery of Lir Offshore Array Geophysical Survey; Management and delivery of data products for Northland Power’s Spiorad na Mara (SnM) OWF survey (ECR and Array surveys);Enhanced delivery of UXO certification in support of Geotechnical drilling operations leveraging Starlink data transfer for enhanced  project timelines; Data Management for GTEC Thistle Wind Power ECR surveys, Scotland 2023. and development of AI image screening process for ornithological survey works. Ondine also joined the  DECC framework for the provision of legacy marine data in support of national ORE Development activity.

More recently Ronan  has been providing knowledge and support for the ORE and Marine Geophysical Survey sector with a focus on the deployment of efficient ICT and Data management solutions, integration of multiple data streams and management workflows for the acquisition, processing and delivery of high quality marine geophysical data products. Clients include  the  Marine Institute: Survey Planning and Data Strategy Implementation for 2D Multichannel Ultra High-Resolution Seismic survey campaign within the South Coast DMAP, in Support of DECC’s ORESS 2.1 Auction. Tonn Nua campaign completed and delivered in 2024. He is currently engaged in planning for the completion of Lí Ban 2D MCUHRS survey in SC-DMAP along with longer term strategy
development.

Ronan  has been at the forefront of developing UAV technolgy for the Marine sector , having been awarded a Geoscience Short Call Funding for the Development of UAV SOPS and operational capacity build for GSI. He was awarded an Innovation Voucher from Enterprise Ireland for the development of remote support services based on Google Glass with INSIGHT Centre for data Analytics at DCU.

Ronan is a Registered Member of the Institute of Marine Science Engineering and Technology (IMarEST) as a Chartered Marine Technologist (CMarTech). He is Secretary of the Dublin Branch of IMarEST.