Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MENELAOS_NT (European Training Network (ETN) on Multimodal Environmental Exploration Systems – Novel Technologies)
Période du rapport: 2022-01-01 au 2024-09-30
In the context of rapid planetary changes, population growth, industrialization, resource exploitation, natural hazards, and complex systems, MENELAOS_NT addressed the critical issue of scientifically and technologically exploring “the world” on micro- and macroscopic scales. The project aimed to provide deeper insights and information to understand and monitor basic processes and environments, enabling predictions and potential control of critical evolutions. This supported decision-makers with reliable information for sustainable measures. MENELAOS_NT achieved this through interdisciplinary research and training for promising ESRs, supported by a balanced intersectoral consortium.
MENELAOS_NT tackled societal challenges, such as sustainable agriculture, forestry, bioeconomy, environmental changes, resource efficiency, and societal security. It applied Novel Technologies (NT) for multimodal, multi-sensor data fusion to optimally combine information from diverse sensors (in-situ/remote, optical/non-optical) at various scales, resolutions, and reliability. Traditional methods were inadequate to meet the tailored information needs of decision-makers.
The "Big Data" approach to data acquisition is feasible but leads to exponentially growing datasets. MENELAOS_NT promoted sustainable information generation by moving beyond analogue-to-digital conversion to directly acquiring focused information. This aligns with the novel disciplines of Computational Sensing, including Compressed Sensing (CS) and Compressed Learning (CL), which MENELAOS_NT leveraged to distill information directly at sensing.
MENELAOS_NT tackled societal challenges, such as sustainable agriculture, forestry, bioeconomy, environmental changes, resource efficiency, and societal security. It applied Novel Technologies (NT) for multimodal, multi-sensor data fusion to optimally combine information from diverse sensors (in-situ/remote, optical/non-optical) at various scales, resolutions, and reliability. Traditional methods were inadequate to meet the tailored information needs of decision-makers.
The "Big Data" approach to data acquisition is feasible but leads to exponentially growing datasets. MENELAOS_NT promoted sustainable information generation by moving beyond analogue-to-digital conversion to directly acquiring focused information. This aligns with the novel disciplines of Computational Sensing, including Compressed Sensing (CS) and Compressed Learning (CL), which MENELAOS_NT leveraged to distill information directly at sensing.
In the following we summarize the progress on each work package (WP). Acronyms: RR2/3: second/third Research Report, FP2/FP3: presentation at the second/third annual Fall Presentations, CP2/3: second/third Conference Paper , MSS: Scientific presentation for each ESR at Midterm Summer School, JP: Journal Paper.
WP1: Novel Sensors and Systems:
Contributions from ESR 1 resulted in timely submission of MSS, RR2/3, FP2/3, CP2/3, JP, and PhD (in process of finalisation)
WP2: Sensor Information Flow and Integration:
Contributions from ESRs 2-6 resulted in timely submission of MSS, RR2/3, FP2/3, CP2/3, JP, and PhDs (3 awarded, 1 awaiting defense, 1 in process of finalisation)
WP3: Novel Approaches to Sensor Data Processing:
Contributions from ESRs 7-11 resulted in timely submission of MSS, RR2/3, FP2/3, CP2/3, JP, and PhDs (2 awarded, 1 awaiting defense, 2 in process of finalisation)
WP4: High Level Information Mining:
Contributions from ESRs 12-15 resulted in timely submission of MSS, RR2/3, FP2/3, CP2/3, JP, and PhDs (4 awarded)
WP5: Doctoral Training:
a)Annual update of career development plans (CDPs)
b)Managing and monitoring of e-learning facilities and providing the lisences
c)Dedivering all 3 Transferable Skills courses (1 planned, 2 new) and 19 specialized courses (18 planned and 1 new)
d)Organization of network-wide events. Major events: MSS, FP2, FP3 and Closing event of the project
e)Coordination and supervision of 22 secondments
WP6: Communication, Exploitation & Dissemination:
a)Scientific Dissemination: As the main results, throughout the project’s duration, a total of 93 publications have been produced, including 20 articles published in scientific journals, 72 in scientific conference proceedings or workshops, 1 book chapter, plus other 9 dissertations. The implication of external scientists in network-wide dissemination events such as FP1 (first reporting period) and FP2, FP3, and Closing event-CoSeRa 2024. (all the publications are open-acess)
b)Industrial Dissemination: presenting the project in FHR’s annual Wachtberg Forum event in June 2022.
c)Public Outreach: participation in the ERN 2021 during the first reporting period and participation in the "Bonner Wissenschaftsnacht 2022" event in Bonn-Germany and European Researchers’ Night 2023, in the G-Night event held at Santiago de Compostela-Spain during the second period. Social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, and COLCHIS blog.
d)Update of exploitation strategy
WP7: Management & Administration:
a)Consortium Management: The project ammendment submition, budget managment meetings, submission of the progress report, associated mid-term check, and the closing event gathering during the CoSeRa 2024 event
b)Update of the “Comprehensive Risk Plans”
WP8: Open Research Data Pilot (ORDP):
Maintenance of a data management plan (DMP). No modification to the first version has been deemed necessary and the latter remains valid.
WP9: Ethics requirements:
The network has timely submitted the two deliverables foreseen within this WP (NEC and DU).
WP1: Novel Sensors and Systems:
Contributions from ESR 1 resulted in timely submission of MSS, RR2/3, FP2/3, CP2/3, JP, and PhD (in process of finalisation)
WP2: Sensor Information Flow and Integration:
Contributions from ESRs 2-6 resulted in timely submission of MSS, RR2/3, FP2/3, CP2/3, JP, and PhDs (3 awarded, 1 awaiting defense, 1 in process of finalisation)
WP3: Novel Approaches to Sensor Data Processing:
Contributions from ESRs 7-11 resulted in timely submission of MSS, RR2/3, FP2/3, CP2/3, JP, and PhDs (2 awarded, 1 awaiting defense, 2 in process of finalisation)
WP4: High Level Information Mining:
Contributions from ESRs 12-15 resulted in timely submission of MSS, RR2/3, FP2/3, CP2/3, JP, and PhDs (4 awarded)
WP5: Doctoral Training:
a)Annual update of career development plans (CDPs)
b)Managing and monitoring of e-learning facilities and providing the lisences
c)Dedivering all 3 Transferable Skills courses (1 planned, 2 new) and 19 specialized courses (18 planned and 1 new)
d)Organization of network-wide events. Major events: MSS, FP2, FP3 and Closing event of the project
e)Coordination and supervision of 22 secondments
WP6: Communication, Exploitation & Dissemination:
a)Scientific Dissemination: As the main results, throughout the project’s duration, a total of 93 publications have been produced, including 20 articles published in scientific journals, 72 in scientific conference proceedings or workshops, 1 book chapter, plus other 9 dissertations. The implication of external scientists in network-wide dissemination events such as FP1 (first reporting period) and FP2, FP3, and Closing event-CoSeRa 2024. (all the publications are open-acess)
b)Industrial Dissemination: presenting the project in FHR’s annual Wachtberg Forum event in June 2022.
c)Public Outreach: participation in the ERN 2021 during the first reporting period and participation in the "Bonner Wissenschaftsnacht 2022" event in Bonn-Germany and European Researchers’ Night 2023, in the G-Night event held at Santiago de Compostela-Spain during the second period. Social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, and COLCHIS blog.
d)Update of exploitation strategy
WP7: Management & Administration:
a)Consortium Management: The project ammendment submition, budget managment meetings, submission of the progress report, associated mid-term check, and the closing event gathering during the CoSeRa 2024 event
b)Update of the “Comprehensive Risk Plans”
WP8: Open Research Data Pilot (ORDP):
Maintenance of a data management plan (DMP). No modification to the first version has been deemed necessary and the latter remains valid.
WP9: Ethics requirements:
The network has timely submitted the two deliverables foreseen within this WP (NEC and DU).
The MENELAOSNT project achieved remarkable progress beyond the state of the art, making significant socio-economic and societal contributions through interdisciplinary research and training. It addressed key challenges in areas like autonomous systems, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and smart cities.
1- Key Advances and Impacts:
a) Autonomous Systems & Smart Technologies: ESR1 and ESR5 advanced efficient 3D imaging technologies for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and AR, enhancing transportation safety and reducing energy consumption. ESR2’s event camera improved real-time monitoring for robotics and surveillance, benefiting industries like automation and search-and-rescue
b) Healthcare & Medical Imaging: ESR3’s passive ToF imaging and ESR10’s THz imaging provided non-invasive, safer medical diagnostic tools, with potential for early cancer detection and continuous patient monitoring, reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes
c) Environmental Sustainability: Research by ESR6, ESR7, and others optimized radar and SAR technologies for disaster response, ocean monitoring, and urban planning. These innovations supported sustainable agriculture, resource management, and disaster preparedness
d) Smart Cities & Urban Infrastructure: ESR12 and ESR13 developed real-time monitoring systems and a Scan-to-BIM framework for infrastructure management, improving urban safety and resilience while promoting resource efficiency
e) Technological Innovation & Economic Growth: By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and equipping ESRs with diverse skills, the project boosted Europe’s competitiveness, created job opportunities, and ensured scientific breakthroughs transitioned into industrial applications
2- Potential Applications:
The project's findings are applicable in industries such as autonomous vehicles, healthcare, telecommunications, and smart cities. Technologies like ToF imaging, event cameras, and SAR algorithms hold promise for commercial use in robotics, AR/VR, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and urban infrastructure management.
In conclusion, MENELAOSNT’s contributions strengthened Europe’s innovation ecosystem, addressing societal challenges while creating opportunities for sustainable growth and societal well-being.
1- Key Advances and Impacts:
a) Autonomous Systems & Smart Technologies: ESR1 and ESR5 advanced efficient 3D imaging technologies for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and AR, enhancing transportation safety and reducing energy consumption. ESR2’s event camera improved real-time monitoring for robotics and surveillance, benefiting industries like automation and search-and-rescue
b) Healthcare & Medical Imaging: ESR3’s passive ToF imaging and ESR10’s THz imaging provided non-invasive, safer medical diagnostic tools, with potential for early cancer detection and continuous patient monitoring, reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes
c) Environmental Sustainability: Research by ESR6, ESR7, and others optimized radar and SAR technologies for disaster response, ocean monitoring, and urban planning. These innovations supported sustainable agriculture, resource management, and disaster preparedness
d) Smart Cities & Urban Infrastructure: ESR12 and ESR13 developed real-time monitoring systems and a Scan-to-BIM framework for infrastructure management, improving urban safety and resilience while promoting resource efficiency
e) Technological Innovation & Economic Growth: By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and equipping ESRs with diverse skills, the project boosted Europe’s competitiveness, created job opportunities, and ensured scientific breakthroughs transitioned into industrial applications
2- Potential Applications:
The project's findings are applicable in industries such as autonomous vehicles, healthcare, telecommunications, and smart cities. Technologies like ToF imaging, event cameras, and SAR algorithms hold promise for commercial use in robotics, AR/VR, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and urban infrastructure management.
In conclusion, MENELAOSNT’s contributions strengthened Europe’s innovation ecosystem, addressing societal challenges while creating opportunities for sustainable growth and societal well-being.