During the first 15 months of the NERITES project, the consortium established a comprehensive foundation for the autonomous monitoring and preservation of UCH. The focus was placed on strategic planning, the development of technical specifications, the initiation of system design and early steps toward integration and validation.
Effective project management ensured progress monitoring, quality assurance, and risk management. A data management system based on FAIR principles guarantees the reuse and long-term availability of project data.
Technically, a comprehensive evaluation concept was developed which, together with end users and partners, defined specific mission objectives, environmental conditions, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for two pilot sites (Baiae, Italy, and Fournoi, Greece). KPIs include, among others, deployment time, diving depth, sensor performance, and system reliability.
The technical requirements for the AUV, buoy, and docking station were described in detail. Challenges such as precise sensor positioning, navigation, energy self-sufficiency, and communication were specifically addressed to ensure reliable operation at sensitive UCH sites.
A framework for assessing degradation processes was developed that classifies physical, chemical, and biological hazards. Predictive analyses and site-specific monitoring models are created based on material, structural, and environmental parameters.
Initial development of technical components has begun, including the Remote Monitoring and Control Center (RMCC), the design of the AUV and buoy, and an AI-supported mission planning tool for adaptive control.
Advances in sensor technologies include:
• Laboratory tests of a LIBS prototype for material analysis,
• Design of a QCL-based sensor for environmental pollutants,
• AI-supported photogrammetry for damage detection,
• development of a data-based tool for degradation assessment.
