Mature use case

Aquatic Litter Drones

Aquatic Litter monitoring system using drones

Aim

To establish an operational service at the iMagine platform for ingestion, storage, analysis and processing of drone images, observing litter floating at surface waters in seas, rivers and lakes, and lying at beaches and shores, delivering standardised classified litter data sets, which are fit for purpose of environmental management and indicators.

Development actions during iMagine

1

Formulating and adopting standard protocols for drone observation and for classifying observed litter objects, making use of EU guidelines (TG-ML)

2

Refining processing methodology and setting up operational environment at iMagine platform, with AI image analysis service and databases for ingestion of ‘raw’ and annotated drone images, and classified litter data, resulting from the image processing

3

Developing guidance and training material for uptake of litter observation by drones and observed image processing data by researchers, environmental agencies, NGOs and other users (including citizen science)

4

Reaching out to users for uptake and provide support and training.

Expected Results

1

Resulting litter data sets are of importance for environmental management, cleaning operations, and contributing to indicators such as for the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and EU Green Deal.

Involved Partners

DFKI

lead and process expert

Maris

expert in databases, data management, and site development

OGS

expert in Marine Litter data management for EU and links with TG-ML, JRC, EEA and EU DG Env.