Smart Ports, Clean Waters: Using Uncrewed surface vessels for water protection
Even if it is often forgotten, yacht and industrial harbours are not just waterways, but also sensitive ecosystems. Uncrewed surface vessels are now being used in the south-west of England to protect them (Photo: HydroSurv)
Ports are important transhipment centres for the maritime economy and the backbone of a major industry. At the same time, quays and waterways are sensitive ecosystems. The 'Smart Ports, Clean Waters' project, which uses uncrewed surface vessels equipped with special sensor technology in the south-west of England, aims to improve public understanding of the condition of busy waterways, while collecting data that can be used to protect them.
Water pollution is a major problem in the United Kingdom. Only around 14% of the UK's rivers are currently in good ecological status, as defined by the Water Framework Directive. This makes it all the more important not only to take action to improve water quality, but also to protect those areas where it already meets higher standards. For example, the River Dart, which flows into the English Channel at Dartmouth and is influenced by the tides until just before Totnes, has been designated as bathing water in four sections. In order to monitor the possible influence of tidal water masses moving inland, as well as sewage and agricultural discharges, three HydroSurv USVs (Uncrewed Surface Vessels) are being deployed in the ports of Dartmouth, Falmouth and Plymouth as part of the 'Smart Ports, Clean Waters' project. Equipped with special sensors from Chelsea Technologies, they collect specific data on water temperature and pollution. The weekly measurement campaigns are conducted by MSeis, a Somerset-based company primarily involved in marine mammal conservation through the collection and analysis of underwater acoustic data.
> This feature was written in cooperation with Drones, the magazine for the drone economy. www.drones-magazin.de