Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NAUTILOS (New Approach to Underwater Technologies for Innovative, Low-cost Ocean obServation)
Reporting period: 2022-04-01 to 2023-09-30
Existing European observation tools and services have the potential to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies to obtain a wide range of data at a much higher spatial resolution and temporal regularity and duration. NAUTILOS is developing a new generation of sensors and samplers for physical, chemical and biological essential ocean variables in addition to micro- and nanoplastics. NAUTILOS is integrating recently advanced marine technologies into different observing platforms and deploying them through innovative and cost-effective methods in a wide range of key environmental settings and EU policy-related applications.
The fundamental aim of the project is to complement and expand current European observation tools and services, to obtain a collection of data at a much higher spatial resolution and temporal regularity and length than currently available at the European scale, and to further enable and democratise the monitoring of the marine environment to both traditional and non-traditional data users, while improving the capacity of understanding and predicting the ocean, through better models. The principles that underlie NAUTILOS are those of the development, integration, validation and demonstration of new cutting-edge technologies with regards to sensors, interoperability and embedding skills. The development is always guided by the objectives of scalability, modularity, cost-effectiveness and open-source availability of software and data products produced. NAUTILOS will provide full and open data feed towards well-established portals and data integrators. Finally, aims to establish synergies and collaborations for the ESPCE and to raise public awareness through a series of citizen science activities.
The fundamental aim of the project is to complement and expand current European observation tools and services, to obtain a collection of data at a much higher spatial resolution and temporal regularity and length than currently available at the European scale, and to further enable and democratise the monitoring of the marine environment to both traditional and non-traditional data users, while improving the capacity of understanding and predicting the ocean, through better models. The principles that underlie NAUTILOS are those of the development, integration, validation and demonstration of new cutting-edge technologies with regards to sensors, interoperability and embedding skills. The development is always guided by the objectives of scalability, modularity, cost-effectiveness and open-source availability of software and data products produced. NAUTILOS will provide full and open data feed towards well-established portals and data integrators. Finally, aims to establish synergies and collaborations for the ESPCE and to raise public awareness through a series of citizen science activities.
After the 2nd a total of 71 deliverables were submitted, with 11 milestones achieved, and as expected, the completion of the work carried out under WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5, WP6 and WP8.
WP2 was the preparatory stage requirements for the development specifications faced by WP3 and WP4, as well as the integration in WP5 and WP7, and was already reported in the previous period.
WP3 focused on advancing cost-effective sensing technologies in response to the increasing need for marine biological observations and measurements. Successfully finalised during period 1 by delivering a 1st set of marine instruments.
WP4 aimed at advancing the development of cost-effective sensing technologies in response to the needs for marine chemistry and Deep Ocean physics measurements, as it successfully achieved the completion of all its tasks by delivering a 2nd set of marine instruments. WP3 and WP4 together accomplished the achievement of milestone MS7 of the project, foreseeing the completion of the development of sensors and samplers.
In WP5, a pivotal task for accomplishing project objectives was the integration of sensors onto various platforms. The sensors and platforms involved in this task were diverse, encompassing different types of experimentation. This approach aimed to address a broader spectrum of case studies: the AUV, the Lander and ASV, the UAV, moored buoys, FerryBoxes, ships of opportunity, fishing vessels, animal tagging system.
WP6 facilitated calibration, validation, and scenario testing, comprising two phases. The first phase involved the validation and calibration of sensors developed in WP3 and WP4. The objective was to test each instrument under realistic conditions. Phase 2 focused on control scenario testing, serving as a precursor to demonstrations in WP7. The testing and validation of instrumentation resulted in the achievement of milestone MS10 within this work package.
WP8 included validating data accuracy, reliability and specificity of each developing sensor while integrating them into the data management platform. Models for the three NAUTILOS study cases to create the Nature Run results have been delivered. Additionally, a Graphical User Interface for data visualization was implemented. Furthermore, an app and other devices suitable for Citizen Science activities were created.
WP7 aims to demonstrate the NAUTILOS technological products in a broad range of key environmental settings (e.g. from shore to deep sea deployments) and EU policy-relevant applications
WP9 aims at demonstrating and quantifying how the new sensors, the new integration in platforms and the new observation approaches will improve modelling capabilities in terms of hydrodynamic, biogeochemical and plastic pollution models, to be used at three different sites. Moreover, regarding remote sensing, demonstrations will be performed for improving RS calibration through the observations. An additional objective of this WP is to create a Data-Sharing environment with main European data repositories such as EMODnet. Concerning the data transfer towards external repositories, milestone MS11 has been achieved at M36 for this WP.
In WP10, a comprehensive Policy Strategic Agenda was crafted to guide policy engagement, and three concise policy briefs outlined NAUTILOS' focus and recommended actions. The NAUTILOS Policy Round Table, held in collaboration with the Ocean Race Grand Finale, emphasized collaboration, citizen involvement, and ocean observation in addressing climate change. The launch of the CS online project "Marine Creatures" engages citizen scientists in annotating underwater images for marine benthic biodiversity evaluation. The integration of the AlgaWarning kit in CS campaigns introduced tools for environmental monitoring of algal blooms. Numerous synergies were established, fostering collaborative relationships to reinforce current and future NAUTILOS initiatives.
In WP11, following the delivery of the Exploitation strategy, all anticipated deliverables have been successfully submitted. D11.8 D11.6 and D11.2. With the completion of these deliverables, namely the Open Access Instrumentation Roadmap, Initial Environmental Impact Assessment, and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment, this work package achieved milestones MS3 and MS8.
The activities of WP12 are related to the ESPCE, which has been identified as one of the main blocks of the European Green Deal agenda. Main objectives include the establishment of collaborations relating to the ESPCE with current and past projects, initiatives, networks and stakeholders, raising awareness of the general public for marine plastic pollution through citizen science actions. A series of online lessons and physical events, as well as seminars and surveys, were organised to inform and highlight the dangers of marine litter and plastic for primary and secondary schools, among other activities.
WP2 was the preparatory stage requirements for the development specifications faced by WP3 and WP4, as well as the integration in WP5 and WP7, and was already reported in the previous period.
WP3 focused on advancing cost-effective sensing technologies in response to the increasing need for marine biological observations and measurements. Successfully finalised during period 1 by delivering a 1st set of marine instruments.
WP4 aimed at advancing the development of cost-effective sensing technologies in response to the needs for marine chemistry and Deep Ocean physics measurements, as it successfully achieved the completion of all its tasks by delivering a 2nd set of marine instruments. WP3 and WP4 together accomplished the achievement of milestone MS7 of the project, foreseeing the completion of the development of sensors and samplers.
In WP5, a pivotal task for accomplishing project objectives was the integration of sensors onto various platforms. The sensors and platforms involved in this task were diverse, encompassing different types of experimentation. This approach aimed to address a broader spectrum of case studies: the AUV, the Lander and ASV, the UAV, moored buoys, FerryBoxes, ships of opportunity, fishing vessels, animal tagging system.
WP6 facilitated calibration, validation, and scenario testing, comprising two phases. The first phase involved the validation and calibration of sensors developed in WP3 and WP4. The objective was to test each instrument under realistic conditions. Phase 2 focused on control scenario testing, serving as a precursor to demonstrations in WP7. The testing and validation of instrumentation resulted in the achievement of milestone MS10 within this work package.
WP8 included validating data accuracy, reliability and specificity of each developing sensor while integrating them into the data management platform. Models for the three NAUTILOS study cases to create the Nature Run results have been delivered. Additionally, a Graphical User Interface for data visualization was implemented. Furthermore, an app and other devices suitable for Citizen Science activities were created.
WP7 aims to demonstrate the NAUTILOS technological products in a broad range of key environmental settings (e.g. from shore to deep sea deployments) and EU policy-relevant applications
WP9 aims at demonstrating and quantifying how the new sensors, the new integration in platforms and the new observation approaches will improve modelling capabilities in terms of hydrodynamic, biogeochemical and plastic pollution models, to be used at three different sites. Moreover, regarding remote sensing, demonstrations will be performed for improving RS calibration through the observations. An additional objective of this WP is to create a Data-Sharing environment with main European data repositories such as EMODnet. Concerning the data transfer towards external repositories, milestone MS11 has been achieved at M36 for this WP.
In WP10, a comprehensive Policy Strategic Agenda was crafted to guide policy engagement, and three concise policy briefs outlined NAUTILOS' focus and recommended actions. The NAUTILOS Policy Round Table, held in collaboration with the Ocean Race Grand Finale, emphasized collaboration, citizen involvement, and ocean observation in addressing climate change. The launch of the CS online project "Marine Creatures" engages citizen scientists in annotating underwater images for marine benthic biodiversity evaluation. The integration of the AlgaWarning kit in CS campaigns introduced tools for environmental monitoring of algal blooms. Numerous synergies were established, fostering collaborative relationships to reinforce current and future NAUTILOS initiatives.
In WP11, following the delivery of the Exploitation strategy, all anticipated deliverables have been successfully submitted. D11.8 D11.6 and D11.2. With the completion of these deliverables, namely the Open Access Instrumentation Roadmap, Initial Environmental Impact Assessment, and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment, this work package achieved milestones MS3 and MS8.
The activities of WP12 are related to the ESPCE, which has been identified as one of the main blocks of the European Green Deal agenda. Main objectives include the establishment of collaborations relating to the ESPCE with current and past projects, initiatives, networks and stakeholders, raising awareness of the general public for marine plastic pollution through citizen science actions. A series of online lessons and physical events, as well as seminars and surveys, were organised to inform and highlight the dangers of marine litter and plastic for primary and secondary schools, among other activities.
NAUTILOS will fill in existing marine observation and modeling gaps through the development of a new generation of cost-effective sensors and samplers for physical and chemical essential ocean variables, in addition to micro-/nano-plastics, to improve our understanding of environmental change and anthropogenic impacts related to aquaculture, fisheries, and marine litter. Newly developed marine technologies are being integrated with different observing platforms and deployed through the use of novel approaches in a broad range of key environmental settings and EU policy-relevant applications:
- Fisheries & Aquaculture Observing Systems,
- Platforms of Opportunity demonstrations,
- Augmented Observing Systems demonstration,
- Demonstrations on ARGO Platform,
- Animal-borne Instruments.
- Fisheries & Aquaculture Observing Systems,
- Platforms of Opportunity demonstrations,
- Augmented Observing Systems demonstration,
- Demonstrations on ARGO Platform,
- Animal-borne Instruments.