The sea is essential to the balance of our planet, yet it is increasingly affected by pollution, waste accumulation and changes to marine ecosystems. How can we detect these issues and act before they cause irreversible damage?
One answer lies in marine environmental monitoring, which uses technology to observe, measure and analyse conditions in aquatic environments.
Thanks to drones for environmental monitoring, marine environmental sensors and artificial intelligence, we can now collect detailed information on water quality, identify concentrations of floating waste and support scientific research.
These innovations offer important opportunities for the blue economy by enabling the development of technology-driven solutions that support sustainability.
But how do they work in practice? And what advantages do they offer over traditional methods?
Table of contents
What is marine environmental monitoring and why does it matter?
Marine environmental monitoring covers the observation, collection and analysis of data needed to assess conditions in seas, oceans and coastal areas.
Regular or continuous measurements help identify changes in environmental parameters and highlight potential risks.
Key parameters and features commonly monitored include:
- water temperature: helps researchers study thermal variations that can affect marine organisms;
- salinity: provides information about the physical characteristics of water masses;
- dissolved oxygen: an important indicator for assessing the conditions of aquatic habitats;
- water pH: helps researchers understand the chemical balance of marine environments;
- turbidity: indicates the presence of suspended particles in the water;
- marine litter: helps track the distribution of floating materials and waste accumulation along coastlines;
- biodiversity: helps scientists study the presence and evolution of marine species and habitats.
This information is essential for understanding how ecosystems evolve and supporting environmental conservation efforts.
In the past, many measurements depended primarily on researchers and field teams working directly on site. Today, environmental technologies make it possible to combine conventional observations with digital tools and automated systems.
The result is the potential for more frequent and detailed monitoring, bringing together data from different sources.
How are drones used for marine environmental monitoring?
One of the most interesting developments in this field is the use of drones for environmental monitoring.
Drones, also known as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), are aircraft without an onboard pilot. They can be equipped with high-resolution cameras and other sensing equipment.
By flying over coastal areas and stretches of sea, they can capture images that help identify potential environmental problems.
In marine environmental monitoring, drones can support a range of activities:
- Floating litter detection: identifying accumulations of plastic and other materials visible on the water surface;
- Coastal area observation: helping monitor beaches, bays and hard-to-reach locations;
- Pollution mapping: helping locate areas where waste is concentrated;
- Environmental image collection: capturing visual material for scientific analysis and future comparisons;
- Monitoring changes over time: tracking how conditions in a particular area evolve through repeated surveys;
- Supporting clean-up operations: providing information to help plan waste removal activities;
- Coastal ecosystem analysis: supporting observation of habitats and environmental changes visible from above.
Drones do not remove the need for field measurements, but they can complement them and make data collection more efficient.
Their effectiveness depends on several factors, including weather conditions, visibility, image resolution and the characteristics of the materials being detected.
Marine environmental sensors: how is water quality measured?
While drones provide a view from above, marine environmental sensors collect data directly from the aquatic environment.
These devices can be installed on smart buoys, vessels, floating platforms or underwater equipment.
They measure specific environmental parameters and transmit the readings to dedicated computer systems.
When suitable communications infrastructure is available, integration with the Internet of Things (IoT) allows multiple devices to be connected and their data managed through digital platforms.
A sensor-based monitoring system may provide several functions:
- Temperature detection: measuring changes in water temperature;
- Salinity analysis: monitoring salt concentrations;
- Dissolved oxygen measurement: tracking a parameter essential to many aquatic organisms;
- pH monitoring: assessing variations in water acidity;
- Turbidity measurement: detecting changes in suspended particle levels;
- Data transmission: sending measurements to storage and analysis systems;
- Anomaly alerts: identifying readings that exceed predefined thresholds, where dedicated alert functions are available.
Access to this information can support researchers, public authorities and organisations involved in managing marine resources.
Importantly, no single parameter can determine the overall health of the sea on its own. Data must be interpreted in context and, where necessary, checked through further analysis.
Artificial intelligence and the environment: how AI helps protect the sea
Applying artificial intelligence to environmental work is one of the most promising developments in technology-enabled monitoring.
AI systems can process large amounts of information from drones, sensors and satellites, helping researchers identify patterns, changes and potential anomalies.
In marine environmental monitoring, AI is particularly useful for automated image and data analysis.
For example, image-recognition algorithms can be trained to distinguish certain types of floating litter from other features on the sea surface.
This can help identify areas where potentially polluting materials are concentrated.
Key applications of artificial intelligence include:
- Automated litter detection: analysing drone imagery to identify objects and materials;
- Environmental data classification: organising information gathered by monitoring devices;
- Anomaly detection: identifying significant changes in monitored parameters;
- Trend analysis: studying how environmental phenomena evolve over time;
- Supporting predictive models: processing information to explore possible pollutant dispersion scenarios;
- Decision support: presenting data and visualisations to help plan checks and interventions.
Artificial intelligence does not replace expert judgement, but it can help speed up the processing of information.
To deliver reliable results, algorithms must be developed and validated using appropriate datasets and verifiable scientific methods.
Marine environmental monitoring: the example of the European Copernicus programme
Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth observation programme, provides a practical example of how digital technologies can help protect the sea.
Through satellite data and dedicated marine services, the programme provides information for studying the oceans and environmental processes.
An article published by Copernicus in 2022 explained how combining satellite observations, drones and marine current models can help study plastic pollution in the Mediterranean.
In particular, these technologies offer insight into three areas:
- Identifying visible accumulations of plastic litter;
- Analysing how currents transport materials;
- Assessing possible prevention and removal strategies.
Integrating these sources of information can help us understand not only where litter is located, but also how it may have moved over time.
This approach highlights the potential of marine environmental monitoring that combines satellite data, observation tools and advanced software.
SEA EAGLE: IPPO Engineering’s project for monitoring marine litter
IPPO Engineering’s research and development activities provide another concrete example of how environmental technologies can help protect aquatic ecosystems.
Among the projects submitted by the company is SEA EAGLE, an initiative focused on developing and validating an autonomous aerial vehicle for monitoring and collecting marine litter in coastal areas.
The project envisages using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and image-analysis software to identify areas with higher concentrations of waste.
The proposed solution aims to combine observation activities with the collection of materials from the sea surface and coastal areas.
SEA EAGLE therefore shows how software development, automation and marine environmental monitoring can come together to explore innovative ways of protecting ecosystems.
The initiative draws on IPPO Engineering’s expertise as a software development company specialising in research projects relating to environmental technologies, the maritime economy, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The project highlights the value of bringing together technological research and sustainability, both of which are essential to developing new applications in the blue economy.
What benefits does marine environmental monitoring bring to the blue economy?
The blue economy encompasses economic activities connected to the sea and marine resources. Its sustainable growth depends on technologies that help protect ecosystems and promote responsible use of natural resources.
In this context, marine environmental monitoring can improve our understanding of environmental conditions and inform decisions made by public bodies, researchers and businesses.
Digital tools offer a range of opportunities:
- Greater data availability: monitoring systems can collect information on a variety of parameters;
- More frequent observations: automation can make it easier to repeat measurements over time;
- Supporting prevention: detecting unusual changes can prompt timely investigation;
- Better planning of interventions: imagery and geolocated data help identify areas where activities should be focused;
- Information integration: software and platforms combine data collected using different tools;
- Development of innovative solutions: research can enable new applications in the environmental and maritime sectors.
These benefits depend on the technical characteristics of the solutions adopted and the quality of the monitoring methods used.
Technological progress must therefore go hand in hand with careful scientific assessment and collaboration between companies, universities, public authorities and research centres.
The future of marine environmental monitoring: innovation and sustainability
The future of marine environmental monitoring will increasingly involve integrating observation systems, automation and intelligent data analysis.
Drones, connected sensors, satellites and software platforms can help create systems that provide a more complete picture of ecosystem conditions.
Key challenges include measurement reliability, interoperability between different technologies, information management and the economic sustainability of solutions.
Turning the data collected into actionable information is crucial for supporting scientific research and planning environmental protection strategies.
In this context, software development expertise for environmental technologies is becoming increasingly important.
Digital innovation can help protect the sea and support development models that place greater emphasis on ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions about marine environmental monitoring
What is marine environmental monitoring?
Marine environmental monitoring involves collecting and analysing data to assess the condition of seas and coastal ecosystems. It may include physical and chemical measurements, biological observations and pollution surveys.
How are drones used to monitor the sea?
Drones used for environmental monitoring capture aerial images that can be analysed to detect floating waste, observe coastal areas and document environmental changes. Results depend on the drone’s capabilities and operating conditions.
What data do marine environmental sensors collect?
Marine environmental sensors can measure parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity. These readings are used to study water conditions and identify potential environmental changes.
Can artificial intelligence detect litter at sea?
Yes. Artificial intelligence algorithms can be trained to analyse images and identify certain categories of visible litter. However, performance depends on image quality, training data and model validation.
What role does the blue economy play in marine protection?
The blue economy supports the development of economic activities connected to the sea. Monitoring technologies can enable more informed resource management by supporting research, pollution prevention and ecosystem sustainability.
IPPO Engineering: digital technologies for a sustainable future
Marine environmental monitoring shows how technological innovation can create new opportunities to understand and address environmental challenges.
IPPO Engineering is a software development company that has been active since 2004, developing digital technologies and participating in research and development projects in the fields of the green economy, blue economy, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Through its technological expertise, the company contributes to initiatives focused on innovation and environmental sustainability.
Would you like to learn more about IPPO Engineering’s activities or propose a research and development partnership?
Explore the company’s expertise and contact the team to discuss new project opportunities.