Innovation and biodiversity: NeMeA Sistemi’s formula for saving fragile ecosystems
Developments in European public policy provide essential tools for implementing the the green and digital transition of fragile ecosystems. Against this backdrop of development driven by institutional investment funds, with the National Operational Programmes (PON) and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), NeMeA Sistemi consolidates its position within the scientific sector linked to environmental protection. By integrating artificial intelligence, marine robotics and Earth observation, the company has launched two strategic research and development projects for the Sardinia’s coastal and lagoon areas.
Both initiatives address the need to support public administrations and managing bodies in data-driven spatial planning, by translating vast amounts of complex data into operational indicators and high-precision simulation models.
AI4Nature: the Calich Digital Twin
The AI4Nature project takes place in the context of the conservation of biodiversity and of the environmental risk management, identifying the Calich Lagoon in Alghero as the pilot operational area. Developed in direct collaboration with the Porto Conte Park (as an end user), the main objective is to validate a integrated system for continuous monitoring and the preservation of the hydrological and biological balance of the catchment area.
From a technological perspective, the architecture is based on a multi-source network:
- On-site data collection: entrusted to the HYDRA® autonomous USV drone for the performance of bathymetric, acoustic and environmental surveys, and to multi-parameter IoT buoys for the continuous sampling of the physico-chemical parameters of water.
- Remote observation: integration of satellite data streams (optical, radar and thermal) for the macroscopic analysis of the water body.
- AI processing and Digital Twin: the data is fed into a secure cloud repository to be processed via Machine learning algorithms. The final output takes the form of a Laguna Digital Twin, a high-resolution dynamic model integrated in real time. This tool enables the analysis of ecological status, the detection of early anomalies and the formulation of predictive models for water quality, providing a crucial decision support system (DSS) for sensitive local economic sectors such as sustainable oyster and mussel aquaculture.
PASS: the One Health approach
In perfect methodological synergy, the PASS project (developed as part of the programmes NBFC – RAISE) adopts the integrated One Health approach, based on the principle of the inseparable interconnection between the health of the environment, the local area and human communities. The initiative aims to raise the technology readiness level (TRL) of eco-robotic systems and predictive applications to ensure they are fully operational in the blue and green economy market.
The PASS project is expanding its scope to two separate pilot sites in Sardinia, establishing key scientific and industrial partnerships:
- Cabras Lagoon (Oristano): an area dedicated to the testing of hydrodynamic and biological models of lagoons, carried out through a high-profile scientific collaboration with the CNR (National Research Council).
- Olbia and northern Sardinia: a hub focused on the development and testing of marine eco-robotic technologies, integrated into the fabric of the industrial ecosystem of the CIPNES.
The technological system developed for the PASS project involves the evolution of theHYDRA® UPS through the integration of the Sub-Bottom Profiler system for theinvestigation of sedimentary layers and seabed dynamics, supported by fixed sensor networks for the surface current survey. The flow of information feeds into a centralised data lake, where artificial intelligence simulates the ecosystem’s dynamic responses to climatic or human-induced changes, generating advanced monitoring dashboards for use by local stakeholders.
Towards a replicable model of environmental protection
Through the convergence of autonomous robotics, predictive intelligence and geoinformatics, NeMeA provides practical solutions to address regional resilience priorities. The expected outcomes from AI4Nature and PASS are not confined to the boundaries of the Sardinian study areas, but aim to define a standardised, scalable technological model that can be applied at national and European level for the conservation of transitional ecosystems.
