Center for Coastal & Marine Studies
MONITORING PLASTICS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
By CCMS AC Member: Dr. David R. Green - UCEMM|University of Aberdeen
Photographs - Courtesy of Texo and Headwall (Drone & Hyperspectral Sensor)
Recent research suggests that it is possible to use remote sensing imagery, tools and techniques to monitor and identify plastics on beaches and also on the surface of the water. With the rapid development in drone platforms and sensors, it is now possible to acquire high-resolution imagery which - with the help of digital image processing software - can be used to extract information on marine litter. Research shows that with growing concerns about microplastics and nanoplastics on our beaches and in the water column, drone technology can help to isolate different types of plastics in the marine litter, some of which may - through decay in the environment - lead to microplastics and nanoplastics being released. Hyperspectral sensors mounted on fixed platforms and drones have demonstrated that it is possible to be able to quickly pick out these plastics, which in practice could help to remove them more quickly before they have a chance to decay significantly.
The University of Aberdeen in conjunction with EGCP's TTPT project is hoping to explore the use of drone platforms with Hyperspectral sensors to undertake a 'proof of concept' research project. In addition to using traditional image processing, the project hopes to examine the role Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play in automated recognition of different plastics from the imagery captured.
Follow more details on: www.abdn.ac.uk/research/ucemm
IN MEMORIAM: PROF. ALLAN T. WILLIAMS, a great scientist and friend!
It is with the greatest sadness to inform the coastal community that Prof. Dr. Allan T. Williams passed away on 17 November 2022.
We will not forget you...
From CCMS and the very many colleagues and friends all around the world!
Vanishing Sands: Losing Beaches to Mining
A new book from Duke University Press, “Vanishing Sands: Losing Beaches to Mining,” casts light on the shadowy world of sand mining through case studies that illuminate its disastrous impacts and a concluding chapter that proposes common-sense solutions.
Because of the tradition of viewing beaches as public land, people have historically thought of beach sand as a free and limitless resource, Pilkey and his co-authors explain in their preface to “Vanishing Sands…”
THE MSP-GREEN PROJECT STARTING
The new EU funded MSP-GREEN project (Maritime Spatial Planning as enabler of the European Green Deal) was officially kick-offed on 07 December 2022 at a virtual event. The project has received funding by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), Grant Agreement: 101081314 — MSP-GREEN — EMFAF-2021-PIA-MSP and has the duration of 24 months (1 November 2022 – 31 October 2024).
The MSP-GREEN is coordinated by CORILA (Consortium for Coordination of Research Activities of the Venice Lagoon), Italy. Other partners are: University of Venice (IUAV), Italy; National Research Council (CNR), Italy; Spanish National Research Council (SCIC), Spain; CEREMA (Centre for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Urban Planning), France; Regional Council of Southwest Finland (FI RCSW;) Center for Coastal and Marine Studies (CCMS), Bulgaria; Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia (MoEPRD); University of Western Brittany (UBO), France; IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), France; VASAB (Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea); Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Germany.
