Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CERTO (Copernicus Evolution – Research for Transitional-water Observation)
Período documentado: 2021-01-01 hasta 2022-12-31
Water quality is a key worldwide issue relevant to human consumption & food production, industry, nature and recreation. The European Copernicus programme includes satellite sensors designed to observe water quality, and services to provide data and information to end-users in industry, policy, monitoring agencies and science. However, water quality data production is split across three services Marine, Climate Change, and Land, with different methods and approaches used and some areas, notably some transitional waters, not supported by any service.
The CERTO project is addressing this lack of harmonisation by undertaking research and development necessary to produce harmonised water quality data from each service. CERTO will focus on methods to classify waters, using satellite observations, together with the most comprehensive existing in situ data sets and additional data gathering within the project. Methods will be improved to remove the atmospheric signal, particularly problematic in near-coastal and transitional waters, as well as to flag waters where the bottom is visible. CERTO will also evaluate optical water quality Indicators, as specified by the broad group of end-users engaged in the project from industry, monitoring agencies and science communities. CERTO will investigate cross-cutting Indicators that may be used across coasts, transitional and inland waters including large rivers (monitored through the Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives). The project will contribute to DANUBIUS the European research infrastructure on River-Sea Systems, and international communities such as Group on Earth Observation (GEO) AquaWatch and Blue Planet, the Lagoons for Life initiative as well as supporting the United National Sustainable Development Goals.
The main output of the project will be a prototype system that can be “plugged into” the existing Copernicus services, used on cloud platforms, or in popular open-source software used widely by the community (SNAP). CERTO will also produce the evidence needed by the “entrusted entities” that run the Copernicus services as to the improvements, potential to increase the user community, possible downstream services and wider impact of the prototype
CERTO will achieve its objectives by uniquely bringing together the leaders of the water quality data production in the three Copernicus Services, four SMEs involved in research and innovation and downstream water quality services, the Climate-KIC that leverage a pan-European partnership and a community of innovators and entrepreneurs, four research intensive institutes/ universities, together with leaders of end-user relevant communities either in the team or as advisors.
The CERTO project is addressing this lack of harmonisation by undertaking research and development necessary to produce harmonised water quality data from each service. CERTO will focus on methods to classify waters, using satellite observations, together with the most comprehensive existing in situ data sets and additional data gathering within the project. Methods will be improved to remove the atmospheric signal, particularly problematic in near-coastal and transitional waters, as well as to flag waters where the bottom is visible. CERTO will also evaluate optical water quality Indicators, as specified by the broad group of end-users engaged in the project from industry, monitoring agencies and science communities. CERTO will investigate cross-cutting Indicators that may be used across coasts, transitional and inland waters including large rivers (monitored through the Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives). The project will contribute to DANUBIUS the European research infrastructure on River-Sea Systems, and international communities such as Group on Earth Observation (GEO) AquaWatch and Blue Planet, the Lagoons for Life initiative as well as supporting the United National Sustainable Development Goals.
The main output of the project will be a prototype system that can be “plugged into” the existing Copernicus services, used on cloud platforms, or in popular open-source software used widely by the community (SNAP). CERTO will also produce the evidence needed by the “entrusted entities” that run the Copernicus services as to the improvements, potential to increase the user community, possible downstream services and wider impact of the prototype
CERTO will achieve its objectives by uniquely bringing together the leaders of the water quality data production in the three Copernicus Services, four SMEs involved in research and innovation and downstream water quality services, the Climate-KIC that leverage a pan-European partnership and a community of innovators and entrepreneurs, four research intensive institutes/ universities, together with leaders of end-user relevant communities either in the team or as advisors.
In Years 1 and 2 the project was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and has been granted a 9 month extension
• WP1: Project management has been undertaken by PML with KO meeting in Plymouth, Jan 2020 and subsequent meetings were virtual
• WP2: comprehensive user consultation was undertaken in the 6 regional user case studies and with the CERTO advisory board representing international projects and user groups; CNR led analysis of existing water-quality products, methodologies and approaches, implemented across the Copernicus services inc. the new Copernicus Marine high resolution service. Analyses of user requirements s focussed on the quality and accuracy required for water quality, different sectors (e.g. regulators and agencies reporting on MSFD and WFD), industry sector needs (e.g. aquaculture, port authorities, etc.). The users requirements were also analysed in terms of scientific and technical functional requirements needed for the CERTO prototype.
• WP3: in year 1 in situ sampling campaign was largely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, in year 2 significant observations were obtained in all case study sites and this has continued in year 3. Spectroradiometers were integrated with autonomous sun-tracking platforms designed by PML and deployed by FCID and GEOECOMAR
•WP4: the water optical classification scheme was reviewed and updated and new OWT sets produced
•WP5: 4 atmospheric correction algorithms were evaluated over the 6 case study areas; Polymer was investigated for adjacency and bottom effects
•WP6: has been impacted by COVID-19. Nevertheless, the requirements reported by case-study users were analysed and reported in depth; indicators have been developed and shown to end users
•WP7: the various Copernicus DIAS were reviewed and the CERTO prototype structure developed and first version of the prototype produced
•WP8: was started in year 3 and will be responible for user demonstrations
•WP9: Dissemination and Exploitation activities have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. Nevertheless, it has been possible to: add new stakeholders, attend and present, mainly virtually, conferences and events
•WP10: Communications activities included a communications plan; creation and updates of a web site; project overview leaflet; news stories; and project newsletters
•WP11: Ethics requirements were completed
• WP1: Project management has been undertaken by PML with KO meeting in Plymouth, Jan 2020 and subsequent meetings were virtual
• WP2: comprehensive user consultation was undertaken in the 6 regional user case studies and with the CERTO advisory board representing international projects and user groups; CNR led analysis of existing water-quality products, methodologies and approaches, implemented across the Copernicus services inc. the new Copernicus Marine high resolution service. Analyses of user requirements s focussed on the quality and accuracy required for water quality, different sectors (e.g. regulators and agencies reporting on MSFD and WFD), industry sector needs (e.g. aquaculture, port authorities, etc.). The users requirements were also analysed in terms of scientific and technical functional requirements needed for the CERTO prototype.
• WP3: in year 1 in situ sampling campaign was largely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, in year 2 significant observations were obtained in all case study sites and this has continued in year 3. Spectroradiometers were integrated with autonomous sun-tracking platforms designed by PML and deployed by FCID and GEOECOMAR
•WP4: the water optical classification scheme was reviewed and updated and new OWT sets produced
•WP5: 4 atmospheric correction algorithms were evaluated over the 6 case study areas; Polymer was investigated for adjacency and bottom effects
•WP6: has been impacted by COVID-19. Nevertheless, the requirements reported by case-study users were analysed and reported in depth; indicators have been developed and shown to end users
•WP7: the various Copernicus DIAS were reviewed and the CERTO prototype structure developed and first version of the prototype produced
•WP8: was started in year 3 and will be responible for user demonstrations
•WP9: Dissemination and Exploitation activities have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. Nevertheless, it has been possible to: add new stakeholders, attend and present, mainly virtually, conferences and events
•WP10: Communications activities included a communications plan; creation and updates of a web site; project overview leaflet; news stories; and project newsletters
•WP11: Ethics requirements were completed
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic many aspect of CERTO have been delayed, notably on in situ data gathering, whilst others have been impacted significantly.
Progress beyond state of the art: N/A
CERTO is addressing the lack of harmonisation between Copernicus services, through R&D focussing on: methods to classify optical water types, improved methods to remove the atmospheric signal, particularly problematic in near-coastal and transitional waters, and to develop indicators that demnstrate the value of teh CERTO products relevant to case-study end-users from industry, monitoring agencies and science communities. The project will contribute to DANUBIUS the European research infrastructure in River-Sea Systems, and international communities such as Group on Earth Observation (GEO) AquaWatch and Blue Planet, the Lagoons for Life initiative as well as supporting the United National Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, CERTO will develop a prototype system incorporating the R&Ddevelopments that can be “plugged into” the existing Copernicus services, used on cloud computing or DIAS infrastructure, or in popular open-source software used widely by the community (SNAP).
To date CERTO has not created any relevant wider socio-economic, societal or scientific impacts.
Progress beyond state of the art: N/A
CERTO is addressing the lack of harmonisation between Copernicus services, through R&D focussing on: methods to classify optical water types, improved methods to remove the atmospheric signal, particularly problematic in near-coastal and transitional waters, and to develop indicators that demnstrate the value of teh CERTO products relevant to case-study end-users from industry, monitoring agencies and science communities. The project will contribute to DANUBIUS the European research infrastructure in River-Sea Systems, and international communities such as Group on Earth Observation (GEO) AquaWatch and Blue Planet, the Lagoons for Life initiative as well as supporting the United National Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, CERTO will develop a prototype system incorporating the R&Ddevelopments that can be “plugged into” the existing Copernicus services, used on cloud computing or DIAS infrastructure, or in popular open-source software used widely by the community (SNAP).
To date CERTO has not created any relevant wider socio-economic, societal or scientific impacts.