Projects (environmental monitoring ecosystem)

EcoMonitoring+ represents another milestone in the field of environmental monitoring in complex and hazardous environments such as those in ports. This project involves not only the combination of technologies such as remote sensing, AI and GIS, but also the use of surface-based aquatic drones Hydra® which carry micro sentinel buoys at specific locations within ports. A key feature of this service is its ability to obtain data on water quality with several collections per day and in the shortest possible time, so as not to disrupt port traffic.

• Prevention of industrial incidents: predictive analysis for the mitigation of risks arising from the presence of flammable or combustible substances on the surface.
• Port management: monitoring the water cycle and water currents, optimising flood control measures.
• Infrastructure protection: ongoing mapping and analysis of critical issues, including the identification of risk scenarios and the propagation of environmental threats.

EcoMonitoring+ has a significant impact on a key sector such as the port industry and provides a clearer understanding of its internal dynamics. It was presented as part of the RAISE programme (Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment), organised by theItalian Institute of Technology (IIT) and funded by the PNRR – NextGenerationEU.

Emissions produced by the maritime transport Emissions resulting from the use of high-sulphur fuels contribute to air pollution in the form of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter. The project Smart Port MonitoRING (SPRING+) It is an automated solution for the monitoring of pollutant emissions from ships (Plum) and for the security surveillance of port areas: using a diverse fleet of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles) as Hydra®, are measured and analysed, in accordance with the EU Directive 2016/802, any presence of SOx, CO₂ and NOx.

SPRING+ was unveiled as part of the RAISE programme (Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment), organised by theItalian Institute of Technology (IIT) and funded by the PNRR – NextGenerationEU.

The project SeaSMA (Smart Maritime Surveillance and Monitoring) focuses on creating a advanced technology platform for the monitoring and protection of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Using a combination of satellite data, surface and underwater drones (USVs and ROVs), IoT sensors (sentinel buoys and onshore control units), and Artificial Intelligence, the project provides an integrated system for:

• Environmental monitoring: monitoring of pollutants and assessment of water quality to support the conservation of marine ecosystems.
• Early warning: issuing alerts regarding the concentration of parameters that may lead to an environmental emergency.
• Convergent ecosystem: diverse data derived from satellite platforms, surface and sub-surface drones, and sentinel buoys equipped with multi-parameter probes, processed using AI models and made available in near real time on dedicated geoportals.

The adoption of SeaSMA by the Marine Protected Areas and the Park Authorities promotes a more sustainable and safer management of marine resources, encouraging the conservation of biodiversity and the strengthening local maritime economies.

Funded by the European Union through the PNRR – NextGenerationEU, SeaSMA is part of the National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Italy’s first research centre dedicated to biodiversity.

The project CaDiT (Calich Digital Twin), was established with the aim of protecting and promoting the lAguna del Calich in Sardinia. The initiative, in collaboration with theCapo Caccia – Isola Piana Marine Protected Area and the Porto Conte Regional Nature Park, involves the construction of a high-definition digital twin: a dynamic, interactive three-dimensional model capable of collecting, processing and simulating real-world environmental data to support informed decision-making.

Through artificial intelligence, big data and predictive models, the system integrates information from advanced sensors, buoys, water treatment plants and satellites (ASI and ESA), providing historical analyses and key environmental parameters. Specific algorithms process this data, making it immediately usable by operators. The processing of data by advanced algorithms makes it possible to monitor the state of the lagoon, analyse geomorphological and environmental changes, and simulate future scenarios linked to climate change and human impact. The project will run for eight months and aims to enhance decision-making capacity in the sustainable management of the lagoon. The initiative also aims to promote innovation in the aquaculture and nature-based tourism sectors, establishing a model that can be replicated in other Italian wetlands.

Funded by the European Union through the PNRR – NextGenerationEU, CaDiT is part of the National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Italy’s first research centre dedicated to biodiversity.

ASDA-EMIS It is a project dedicated to the collection and analysis of environmental data to identify pollutants, climatic anomalies and the impacts of industrial activities. Using machine learning and artificial intelligence, the system generates real-time forecasts and alerts to mitigate environmental risks and protect infrastructure. By analysing data from RADAR/SAR, optical, hyperspectral and meteorological sensors, ASDA-EMIS develops predictive models to anticipate critical events such as climate shocks and infrastructure failures. A specific focus is on the security of electricity networks, by monitoring land surface temperature (LST), to prevent overloading and fires. The system also identifies unauthorised occupation and accumulations of waste, thereby optimising land management. All the data is integrated into a Geographically distributed data lake, ensuring continuous, automated monitoring.

The project is being carried out and funded as part of the the “Entrepreneurial Discovery” programme of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy.

The project SENSE-MAP focuses on monitoring of coastal erosion and on the protection of fragile ecosystems through an integrated system based on satellite data, in situ surveys carried out using Hydra® and advanced GIS technologies. Using multispectral data from the Sentinel-2 mission under the Copernicus-ESA programme, proprietary processing algorithms and a modular WebGIS platform, the project provides an operational tool for:

• Coastal monitoring: ongoing analysis of erosion processes and environmental dynamics along the coastline, to support the protection of the area.
  
• Integrated validation: calibration of satellite data using physical surveys carried out in the field, to ensure high standards of accuracy and reliability.
  
• Interoperable data management: collection, standardisation, processing and visualisation of environmental information through a scalable and modular WebGIS ecosystem.
  
• Governance support: the availability of data and analyses useful for decision-making processes relating to coastal protection and the sustainable management of environmental resources.

The result of a collaboration between NeMeA Sistemi, theRoma Tre University and theUniversity of Naples Federico II, SENSE-MAP was developed as part of the PNRR, Mission 4: ‘Education and Research’, with the aim of transforming applied research into a practical tool for advanced environmental monitoring.

Hydra® it is the autonomous aquatic drone designed for environmental monitoring in marine, coastal and lake landscapes. Thanks to its versatility, it collects key data on chemical and physical parameters of water, supporting activities such as environmental protection with real-time analysis. Its development, which involves the integration of two HD sensors, a MultiBeam sonar and a LiDAR, introduces a necessary and extremely important component for creating datasets suitable for generating a Digital Twin.

Hydra® Digital Twin, was produced and funded as part of the Call for proposals: “e.INS Innovation Ecosystem – Ecosystem of Innovation for Next-generation Sardinia – Spoke 6” of theUniversity of Cagliari.

The SINFI It is a space designed to bring together the data on company assets (infrastructure and equipment) with the aim of standardising information and facilitating management in accordance with the standards defined by Infratel. The SINFI catalogue includes various types of infrastructure, including the water supply and the drainage network for the conveyance of surface water, sewage and combined water, the telecommunications (both wireless and wired), theelectricity (both low- and medium-voltage), thestreet lighting, the water supply network and the water drainage network. An important aspect of the system is its aim to encourage investment in infrastructure, particularly in the telecommunications sector, in line with the Italian Strategy for Ultra-Broadband and theEuropean Digital Agenda. This objective has been defined as Decree of 11 May 2016 “Establishment of SINFI – the National Federated Infrastructure Information System. (16A04456)” (Official Gazette, General Series No. 139 of 16 June 2016), which officially established SINFI.

NeMeA Sistemi, SINFI qualified support, over the past few years it has supported over 100 private individuals and utility companies in the process of digitisation and data submission, providing a mapping platform capable of managing the company’s assets.

The PELL (Public Energy Living Lab) project It was established and developed with the aim of promoting a system for the collection, organisation, management, processing, evaluation and monitoring of identity and consumption data relating to the main urban energy infrastructures. Consisting of a nationwide IT platform for the organisation and monitoring of strategic data, it is a tool for support for the public sector for the purposes of infrastructure management. The working group set up under the collaboration agreement between NeMeA and ENEA, aims to create a two-way convergence between the geographical world of GIS and the analytical world of PELL. The aim is to develop the tools necessary for theuse of geographical data to assist with the creation of census forms for inclusion in the PELL.

As part of the “Smart Italy Goal” project, the working group will be responsible for providing technical support, guidance and training to public administrations and concessionaires regarding the processes for uploading public lighting data to the PELL through the interoperability of geographical data.