Ocean Monitoring

Our oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and play a vital role in regulating the global climate, supporting diverse ecosystems, and providing resources for human activities. Ocean monitoring is essential for:

• Environmental Conservation: Ocean monitoring helps identify areas of concern, such as pollution hotspots, habitat degradation, and overfishing. This data can facilitate the implementation of effective conservation measures and the establishment/ maintenance of marine protected areas.
• Economic Development: Sustainable management of fisheries and other marine resources relies on accurate data from ocean monitoring. This information can support the development of policies and practices that balance economic growth with environmental protection.
• Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: Understanding the impacts of climate change on our oceans can inform the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies, such as coastal infrastructure planning, ocean-based renewable energy, and carbon sequestration techniques.
• Disaster Preparedness and Response: Ocean monitoring can improve our ability to predict and respond to natural disasters, such as tsunamis, hurricanes, and coastal flooding. This can save lives and minimize property damage.

There are various methods and technologies used in ocean monitoring, ranging from traditional techniques to state-of-the-art remote sensing and autonomous systems:

• Satellite imaging: Satellites provide global coverage and continuous monitoring of several ocean parameters, such as sea surface temperature, sea level, ocean color, and ice cover. They are invaluable for studying large-scale phenomena and long-term trends.
• VMS based tracking data: Vessel Monitoring Systems are used in commercial fishing to enable environmental and fisheries regulatory authorities to monitor and manage fishing activities. It primarily aims to ensure sustainable fishing practices and compliance with regulations.
• AIS based tracking data: Automatic Identification Systems are used to automatically exchange navigational information, such as vessel identity, position, course, and speed, between ships and shore stations. While both AIS and VMS track vessels, AIS is more widely accessible and not limited to government regulators or fisheries authorities like VMS.
• In Situ Measurements: Buoys, moorings, and research vessels equipped with sensors can collect detailed measurements of water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters. This data provides ground truth for satellite observations and offers higher spatial resolution than satellites.
• Autonomous Vehicles: Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and gliders can perform long-duration missions, reaching remote and deep ocean areas. They can collect a wide range of data, including high-resolution mapping of seafloor features, water column properties, and marine life distribution.
• Remote Sensing: Airborne remote sensing platforms, such as aircraft and drones, can collect high-resolution imagery and data on coastal ecosystems, sea ice, and surface currents, fishing activity…

ATLAN Insight are AI-powered VTOL drones that can fly for 12h and cover more than 20.000 km2 of the ocean per flight to monitor the targeted area to collect data depending on the mission’s nature and aim:

• Fighting IUU fishing: ATLAN Insight is the best tool when it comes to identifying, safely tracking, and reporting IUU fishing activity in real-time regardless of VMS or AIS status, which enables decision makers to be better informed on what they are facing, act on the provide data immediately, and get legal proof of policy violations.
• Detecting large marine debris: Long endurance BVLoS drones equipped with the right cameras and sensors can assist in locating marine debris that might otherwise be challenging to spot from the ground or even by boat. The collected data can be used to create accurate maps of debris locations, allowing cleanup crews to efficiently remove the items from the ocean.
• Tracking oil spills: To mitigate the damage caused by oil spills in the ocean, it’s essential to detect and track them earlier on, and that can effectively be done using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors. Tracking the spills’ progress this way enables the quick, safe and efficient deployment of cleanup crews to contain and clean up the spill.
• Reporting IMO Sulfur 2020 emission: ATLAN Insight drones can monitor maritime activities compliance with IMO’s sulfur limit for ships’ fuel oil to sustain marine ecosystems, reduce ocean acidification and protect populations living close to ports and coasts.
• Carrying out SAR Missions: Due to their efficiency and effectiveness in covering large areas quickly and safely, ATLAN Insight drones can provide situational awareness, as well as detect and identify objects in the water, significantly reducing, as a result, the time and number of rescuers needed to locate individuals in distress.
• Surveying offshore wind farms: When it comes to maintenance and inspection of wind turbines. ATLAN Insight drones can provide a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods, such as using cranes and boats. By employing drones, companies can access hard-to-reach areas of the turbines, reducing the risk to human workers while also minimizing downtime.