For operations preparation, NTNU Samfunnsforskning (Departments CIRiS and Studio Apertura) has mapped out the main functions needed in the control center. They have competence from more than a decade of remotely operating equipment onboard the International Space Station from their control centre at Dragvoll.

The tools of the OceanLab control center will need to be designed for today’s underwater operations, but at the same time allow for future scenarios with multiple parallel operations. There is a clear need for an information- and communication system with various key elements, including resource planning, time-lining, procedures, logging, communication, error reporting, configuration management, displays and more. NTNU Samfunnsforskning has pointed to the importance of organization in the control center, and this has been considered throughout the subsea node control center preparations phase.

NTNU Samfunnsforskning has also pointed to the importance of a well-functioning OceanLab e-infrastructure. Having the possibility to register ones interest in the test site, storing the huge amount of data and metadata from missions in a presentable way, and requesting access to research results post-mission, are vital to the success of OceanLab.