Abstract
This report discusses the process to develop a data acquisition (DAQ) system for marine renewable energy technologies; however, much of what is presented is applicable to any applications that require data acquisition. Process details are provided to highlight the requirements and critical steps for a successful measurement campaign and to explain what can impact the overall outcome, cost, and schedule. The process presented is an amalgamation of best practices, lessons learned, recommendations, and prudent technical project planning and management. DAQ systems may be tightly integrated with the device being measured and often have their own dependencies. Therefore, early consideration for the DAQ system is stressed throughout this document.