Innovative Technologies for Monitoring Marine Protected Areas
The DigitAP project dedicated to Marine Protected Areas (MPA) is getting underway, with the start of the delivery phase of the equipment intended for environmental monitoring of species and habitats and anthropic pressures.
This involves high-tech equipment, including two different types of drones: a first model equipped with a laser light LiDAR sensor, ideal for 3D mapping of the territory and submerged structures, and the other equipped with a multispectral probe, capable of detecting environmental parameters, including the characteristics of vegetation and water quality.
The first MPAs interested in the delivery of the drones are those of Sicily gathered at Capo Milazzo, followed by and throughout the summer period, the deliveries will concern the MPAs of Sardinia at Sinis Mal di Ventre, then the Adriatic MPAs at Torre Guaceto, finally those overlooking the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea at the Secche della Meloria and the Southern Tyrrhenian group at the Ventotene MPA. The use of drones will allow the MPAs to extend the monitoring and surveillance capacity at a local level of coastal areas and shallow marine areas.