Innovative technological infrastructure for the acquisition, integration and dissemination of data on the marine ecosystem

Oceans and the seas cover 70% of our planet, and therefore they heavily shape the global climate and economy. But it must be said that the seas remain largely un-explored. Surveying the seas is a slow and very expensive activity, that remains generally focused to delve specific issues. The available data are often outdated and fragmented, since logistically and economically it would be very difficult to survey systematically large areas. Company based in North-eastern Italy has developed an innovative technological infrastructure for the acquisition, integration and dissemination of data on marine ecosystem. It is based on a novel paradigm based on the participation of the layman, citizen scientists, of public and private institutions and everyone who will provide access to their ships. Information generated will become a very important tool for scientific outreach and for public awareness, oriented to environmental monitoring. Data acquisition is performed through multi-parametric black box sensors (temperature, salinity, pH and oxygen, etc.) installed on acquisition platforms. These data are transmitted onshore, stored, processed and integrated with other information sources in order to provide end-used with a clear picture of the status of the marine environment. Research and technical cooperation is sought with public/private institution and universities willing to perform such environmental monitoring.