CITCLOPS

Citizens' observatory for coast and ocean optical monitoring

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

In the marine environment, anthropogenic pressures on resources and non-anthropogenic causes may create harmful conditions that affect human society. Harmful algal blooms and habitat destruction are examples, which pose serious human-health threats and severely affect numerous industries, causing annual economic losses in the tens of millions of euros, in the form of reduced sales, diminished tourist activity and unemployment. A widely adopted, scientific way to assess the environmental status of water bodies is by measuring their optical properties (as indicators of, e.g., sewage impact, dissolved organic matter, sediment load or gross biological activity). The Citclops project aims to develop systems to retrieve and use data on seawater colour, transparency and fluorescence, using low-cost sensors combined with contextual information (e.g., georeferencing) and a community-based Internet platform, taking into account existing experiences (e.g., Secchi Dip-In, Coastwatch Europe and Oil Reporter). Simple and fast methods to establish the optical properties of seawater will be developed and used: e.g., the colour through Forel-Ule observations, and transparency through a variant of the Secchi disc. People will be able to acquire data taking photographs of the sea surface on ferries or other vessels, at the open sea or from the beach. Wearable digital cameras for aquatic activities with extended sensing systems are also proposed as alternative resources for crowdsourcing data. Data are automatically uploaded through a specific service or application (such as Google Instant Upload), archived remotely and processed, and resulting information is accessed through a webpage or a mobile application by end users. These are: policy makers (e.g., local administrations), which will be able to use the information to improve the management of the coastal zone; and citizens, who will be able to maximize their experience in activities in which water quality has a role.

Introduzione (Teaser)

In the marine environment human activities and other factors can result in algal blooms and habitat destruction, which may affect people's health and local communities. A common method for assessing the status of water quality is by measuring its optical properties to determine sewage impact, dissolved organic matter, sediment loads or biological activity.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The 'Citizens' observatory for coast and ocean optical monitoring' (http://www.citclops.eu/ (CITCLOPS) project will develop methods for establishing the optical properties of natural water. It will obtain and use data on water colour, transparency and fluorescence using low-cost sensors combined with geo-references and a community-based Internet platform.

Project partners are developing rapid, user-friendly techniques such as an application that will allow people to take photographs and determine water quality using their smart phones. Another consideration is wearable digital cameras that will enable sports divers to collect data.

Citizens and decision makers play a central role in CITCLOPs. By using their mobile devices for collecting, processing and forwarding sensor data, citizens become actively involved in environmental monitoring. The set of tools provided to them will reflect their level of experience and engagement.

Data will be automatically updated, processed and archived through the Internet and accessed by end users through a web page or mobile application. End users include local authorities, who can use the information to improve management of the coastal environment, and the general public.

The project will have a significant impact on both policy and research activities by supporting the implementation of EU directives. These include the Bathing Water Directive, which requires the public to receive appropriate and timely information on the results of monitored bathing water quality.

CITCLOPS will therefore contribute to the well-being of EU citizens by protecting against health hazards, such as toxic algal blooms and pollution events.