Great Lakes Observing System

What Great Lakes Observing System does

Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. GLOS operates as one of 11 certified regional associations within NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and serves as the binational (U.S.-Canada) data backbone for Great Lakes environmental observation. The organization's core product is Seagull, a cloud-based platform launched in April 2022 that integrates real-time data from over 100 deployed buoys, high-frequency radar stations, uncrewed systems (gliders and autonomous surface vessels), and partner-contributed datasets across all five Great Lakes.

The Seagull platform is freely accessible via web and mobile applications, with optional account features for alerts and data downloads, and is supported by REST and ERDDAP APIs for programmatic access. Supporting programs include the Smart Great Lakes Initiative for regional data strategy, the Lakebed 2030 bathymetric mapping effort, and community-based ice thickness monitoring. The organization serves a diverse stakeholder base spanning public health and safety, maritime operations, climate resiliency, and ecosystem health applications, with named users including the Mackinac Island rescue boat service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, NEW Water, Michigan Technological University, and Conservation Ontario.

GLOS is funded primarily through NOAA IOOS federal appropriations, institutional co-funding partnerships with universities and government agencies, and individual donations (tiered from $50/year to $1,000/year). The organization maintains a lean staff of approximately 10 employees and is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors chaired by Heather Stirratt, with Jennifer Boehme as CEO since 2023. With 40+ million people in the Great Lakes watershed depending on the data infrastructure, GLOS functions as critical public-infrastructure rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Great Lakes Observing System

Legal name

Great Lakes Observing System

Website

https://glos.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Observing System is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and NOAA IOOS-certified regional association operating the Seagull cloud platform, which aggregates real-time buoy, radar, and uncrewed system data across the binational Great Lakes for public safety, maritime, research, and ecosystem stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Data Services and Ocean Observing Platform

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Monitoring, Sensors & Instrumentation (SCADA-integrated analyzers, probes, samplers) (EUANAJAC)

Keywords

• Ocean observing systems
• Environmental data services
• Water quality monitoring
• Marine data platform
• Buoy observing network

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations at various tiers (Squawk Squad $50/year to Sky Skipper $1000/year) supporting lake monitoring and protection programs.
2. Federal Grants: GLOS receives appropriated funds through NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) program. Funding is at risk due to proposed federal budget cuts to NOAA.
3. Institutional Partnerships: Partnerships with universities, government agencies, and municipalities who co-fund observation platforms and data initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GLOS operates a cloud-based data platform (Seagull) that delivers real-time and historical Great Lakes environmental observations — including wave, wind, water temperature, water quality, and biological parameters — from a coordinated network of 100+ buoys, high-frequency radars, uncrewed systems, and partner platforms across all five Great Lakes. The organization provides end-to-end data services supporting science, policy, management, industry, and recreation in the binational U.S.–Canada Great Lakes region, with free open public access via web, mobile app, and APIs.

Product overview

GLOS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that serves as the Regional Association within NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). The organization provides end-to-end data services supporting science, policy, management, and industry across the Great Lakes. The primary product is the Seagull platform, a cloud-based web and mobile application that delivers real-time lake data including weather, waves, water temperature, and water quality from a network of over 100 buoys across all five Great Lakes. Seagull integrates data from connected partners including Great Lakes DataStream. GLOS also operates the Smart Great Lakes initiative for regional data strategy and the Lakebed 2030 program for lakebed mapping. Supporting infrastructure includes high-frequency radar systems, uncrewed autonomous platforms (underwater gliders and surface vessels), buoy networks, and community ice thickness monitoring. Data is freely accessible via the Seagull platform, Seagull API, and Seagull ERDDAP data server.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seagull: A cloud-based platform built for Great Lakes data and information, designed to help connect people to the water by providing real-time lake conditions, weather, and buoy data accessible via web and mobile.
• Smart Great Lakes
• Lakebed 2030

Products and services

• Seagull Platform A cloud-based platform built specifically for Great Lakes data and information that integrates real-time wave, wind, water temperature, water quality, and other environmental data from buoys and monitoring stations across all five Great Lakes. Accessible free via web (seagull.glos.org), mobile app (iOS/Android), and APIs (ERDDAP and REST). Used by boaters, fishers, beachgoers, researchers, water utilities, and government agencies across the U.S. and Canada.
• Buoy Observing Network Coordinated network of over 100 buoys deployed each season (~130 across all lakes and surrounding watersheds) using cellular and satellite telemetry, collecting and transmitting real-time weather, wave, and water quality data to GLOS servers and the Seagull platform. Supports maritime safety, fisheries management, and HAB prediction across all five Great Lakes.
• High-Frequency Radar Network Coastal High-Frequency Radar systems deployed in the Great Lakes that measure surface current patterns and conditions. Data feeds into the Seagull platform, supporting maritime safety, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring applications.
• Uncrewed Systems Program Autonomous and remotely operated observation platforms including underwater gliders and autonomous surface vessels (such as the SeaTrac ASV) that extend the GLOS observing footprint and capabilities across the Great Lakes.
• Lakebed 2030 A regional initiative that brings together new and existing high-density bathymetric (lakebed depth) data to create a comprehensive, open, and accessible map of the Great Lakes lakebed. Harmonizes governmental and non-governmental data contributions for navigation safety and ecosystem research.
• Smart Great Lakes Initiative A regional programmatic initiative aimed at improving the understanding, use, conservation, and management of the Great Lakes through connected technology. Serves as a strategic umbrella for partnership-driven Great Lakes data and technology efforts.
• Ice Thickness Monitoring Program A community-based ice thickness data collection project that improves regional ice predictive models and provides data for climate analysis and safety planning on the Great Lakes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 million people benefit from Great Lakes data for drinking water and recreation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLOS is a certified regional association in NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). IOOS is a NOAA-led program serving as the eyes on the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. GLOS is one of 11 regional associations in this network.
• NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLERL is a key research partner deploying environmental monitoring equipment and conducting Great Lakes research that feeds into the GLOS observing network.
• Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIGLR is a collaborative institute conducting Great Lakes research, with staff members who have worked with GLOS on data management and cyberinfrastructure.
• University of MichiganmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple partnerships including CIGLR affiliation, School of Freshwater Sciences research, and alumni involvement in GLOS operations.
• Michigan Technological UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTU conducts research including HF Radar testing, glider operations, and lakebed mapping. Researcher Guy Meadows is quoted supporting GLOS mission.
• Environment and Climate Change CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal environmental agency providing Canadian perspective and data for the binational Great Lakes observing network.
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate ChangemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial environmental ministry supporting Great Lakes monitoring and data sharing across the Canadian portion of the Great Lakes.
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSGS provides scientific expertise and former director Leon Carl serves on the GLOS Board of Directors.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSACE deploys buoys on Lake St. Clair providing data on water balance, precipitation, solar irradiance, water temperature, and wave parameters.
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWM SFS is a certified freshwater research institution deploying buoys including the Green Bay buoy and maintaining long-term monitoring platforms.
• DataStreammajorTechnology or IntegrationGreat Lakes DataStream has connected with Seagull to make data more accessible. DataStream publishes monitoring data that integrates with the GLOS platform.
• SwimSmart Technology LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced January 2026 for the Great Lakes Coastal Warning System, enhancing beach safety through data sharing.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS): IOOS Regional Association covering Central and Northern California. Operates the same federal nonprofit model with buoy networks, model outputs, and stakeholder engagement — directly comparable to GLOS in mission and operations.
• Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS): IOOS Regional Association covering the U.S. Pacific Islands. Operates with the same federal designation, buoy/HF radar infrastructure, and free public data dissemination model — a strong structural analog operating in a different oceanic geography.
• Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS): IOOS Regional Association for the Gulf of Mexico. Provides real-time ocean observing data through a similar nonprofit model with federal IOOS designation, comparable funding structure, and stakeholder mix of recreational, commercial, and research users.
• Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS): IOOS Regional Association for Alaska. Same federal designation and nonprofit structure as GLOS; operates observing assets and data portals serving maritime safety, fisheries, and research users in a distinct geography.
• Northeast Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS): Another certified NOAA IOOS Regional Association covering the Northeast U.S. coast. Directly comparable in mission (real-time ocean/coastal data), governance structure (501(c)(3) nonprofit), federal funding model, and stakeholder engagement approach.
• Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS): IOOS Regional Association for Southern California. Comparable nonprofit governance, federal IOOS funding dependency, and multi-platform observing network including buoys, gliders, and models serving public safety and research stakeholders.
• Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA): IOOS Regional Association covering the Southeast U.S. (Carolinas, Georgia, Florida). Operates the same federal designation model, provides buoy and HF radar data, and serves recreational, research, and maritime safety users — making it one of the closest structural peers to GLOS.
• Great Lakes Commission: Binational U.S.–Canadian agency addressing Great Lakes issues, including observing and data coordination. Direct regional peer with overlapping binational Great Lakes mandate, federal funding dependencies, and stakeholder ecosystem.
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS): IOOS Regional Association serving the U.S. Mid-Atlantic. Operates buoy networks, glider deployments, and HF radar with a similar nonprofit/government partnership model and data dissemination platform — directly comparable in scope and delivery mechanism.

Broad incumbents

• Axiom Data Science: Environmental data platform and IT services company supporting NOAA, IOOS, and other federal oceanographic programs. Operates adjacent to GLOS in the same observing data ecosystem with broader commercial and federal contracting capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/greatlakesobservingsystem
• Xx.com/RealGLOS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Observing System