DIGITALIS is about data collections of pollutants in the Baltic Sea. The project will focus on a new digital sensor network.
According to DIGITALIS, around 97 per cent of the Baltic Sea is affected by eutrophication. The pollutants originate from agriculture, hospitals, industries and tourism. Efforts to tackle the problems require reliable data on pollutant concentration and geographical distribution. DIGITALIS notes that methodologies for accurate pollutant analysis exist, while there is a lack of technologies for large-scale and real-time monitoring. Moreover, DIGITALIS argues that many Marine Protected Areas are established for effective data collection, and that jurisdictional differences across the borders cause problems.
DIGITALIS will decide on a design for a digital sensor system for monitoring pollutants in the Baltic Sea. It stresses that transnational cooperation is needed to understand both national legal interpretations, and considerations and knowledge about different species in national territories. A shared design for a digital sensor system in the Baltic Sea region will increase the impact and sustainability of mitigation and conservation activities. It will minimize negative impact on the environment, and contribute to the economic growth in the region. The activities include analysis of the current knowledge level on pollutant levels, and interviews with experts about sensing technologies as well as mitigation strategies and their impact on specific pollutants. DIGITALIS will form the basis for one or more follow-up projects where sensor systems are tested at various locations in the Baltic Sea.