Computer scientist Tung “Alex” Ly with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) invented the “Digital Buoy Systems and Method” in his laboratory at ERDC’s Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL), Alexandria, Virginia. He received a patent in May 2022 for his digital system which will help reduce operational costs to the U.S. Government and provide real-time, reliable and enhanced marine navigation safety for U.S. private, public and commercial industries.