PILOT STUDIES
Our Pilot Studies test and demonstrate how marine citizen science data can be collected, standardised, and integrated into major data platforms using cost-efficient technologies.
By being a training ground for our methods, they bring together citizens, scientists, and technology providers to address real-world marine monitoring challenges in diverse European regions to prove the value, quality, and impact of citizen-contributed data for science and policy.
These pilots below will test the full data value chain: from local collection to integration into major repositories. Beyond data gathering, they will help refine training materials, validate best practices, and demonstrate how citizen science can complement traditional monitoring, inform policy, and strengthen community engagement in marine conservation.
PILOT PROJECTS
Pollution
Biomarathon
Large-scale biodiversity observation campaigns engaging citizens in species monitoring.
Data pathway
Biodiversity observations & surveys → Biodiversity platforms → Darwin Core standardization → GBIF ingestion → EMODnet Biology
Pollution
Biomarathon
Large-scale biodiversity observation campaigns engaging citizens in species monitoring.
Data pathway
Biodiversity observations & surveys → Biodiversity platforms → Darwin Core standardization → GBIF ingestion → EMODnet Biology
Physics
Interbox
Low-cost coastal monitoring stations collecting environmental and water-quality observations.
Data pathway
Fixed sea-level & meteorological sensors → Automated uploads → QARTOD QA/QC → Standardized time-series → EMODnet Physics
Physics
Interbox
Low-cost coastal monitoring stations collecting environmental and water-quality observations.
Data pathway
Fixed sea-level & meteorological sensors → Automated uploads → QARTOD QA/QC → Standardized time-series → EMODnet Physics
Biodiversity
Spot the alien
Citizen science initiative supporting the detection and monitoring of invasive marine species.
Data pathway
Citizen sightings & photographs → Online submission → Expert validation → Darwin Core occurrence records → GBIF/GRIIS → EMODnet Biology
Biodiversity
Spot the alien
Citizen science initiative supporting the detection and monitoring of invasive marine species.
Data pathway
Citizen sightings & photographs → Online submission → Expert validation → Darwin Core occurrence records → GBIF/GRIIS → EMODnet Biology
Pollution
Secchi Disc
Global citizen science initiative monitoring water transparency and water quality using Secchi disks.
Data pathway
Water transparency measurements via app → Standardized turbidity variables → CSV/JSON datasets → Metadata standardization → EMODnet Physics
Pollution
Secchi Disc
Global citizen science initiative monitoring water transparency and water quality using Secchi disks.
Data pathway
Water transparency measurements via app → Standardized turbidity variables → CSV/JSON datasets → Metadata standardization → EMODnet Physics
Physics
Meteotracker
Mobile weather station and citizen science platform collecting meteorological observations on the move.
Data pathway
Mobile weather observations → Cloud platform & APIs → Georeferenced datasets → Metadata harmonization → EMODnet Physics
Physics
Meteotracker
Mobile weather station and citizen science platform collecting meteorological observations on the move.
Data pathway
Mobile weather observations → Cloud platform & APIs → Georeferenced datasets → Metadata harmonization → EMODnet Physics
Physics
Maccaferri Futura
Offshore racing yacht collecting oceanographic and environmental observations during offshore sailing campaigns.
Data pathway
Sailing Box sensors + navigation data → Corvina dashboard → Quality control & metadata standardization → API/NetCDF dissemination → EMODnet Physics
Physics
Maccaferri Futura
Offshore racing yacht collecting oceanographic and environmental observations during offshore sailing campaigns.
Data pathway
Sailing Box sensors + navigation data → Corvina dashboard → Quality control & metadata standardization → API/NetCDF dissemination → EMODnet Physics
Physics
ENVLOGGER (Becis project)
Citizen scientists use low-cost EnvLogger sensors while surfing, diving, kayaking or from fixed stations to monitor coastal water temperature and support climate and ocean observations.
Data pathway
Citizen measurements of sea temperature → CSV export → Metadata enrichment (SeaDataNet/NERC vocabularies) → QA/QC & outlier detection → NetCDF conversion → EMODnet Physics
Physics
ENVLOGGER (Becis project)
Citizen scientists use low-cost EnvLogger sensors while surfing, diving, kayaking or from fixed stations to monitor coastal water temperature and support climate and ocean observations.
Data pathway
Citizen measurements of sea temperature → CSV export → Metadata enrichment (SeaDataNet/NERC vocabularies) → QA/QC & outlier detection → NetCDF conversion → EMODnet Physics
Pollution
ANDROMEDA
Citizen science microplastic monitoring project using AI-assisted image analysis of beach-collected plastics.
Data pathway
Beach microplastic sampling → Smartphone app & image analysis → Particle characterization → Standardized pollution descriptors & metadata → Repository storage → EMODnet Chemistry
Pollution
ANDROMEDA
Citizen science microplastic monitoring project using AI-assisted image analysis of beach-collected plastics.
Data pathway
Beach microplastic sampling → Smartphone app & image analysis → Particle characterization → Standardized pollution descriptors & metadata → Repository storage → EMODnet Chemistry
Would you like to be involved in the next pilot study?
Funded by the European Union
(Grant Agreement No 101214613)
Start date - End date: 1 June 2025 - 30 November 2027
Type of Action:HORIZON-CSA : HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Photo credits
Alberto Carmagnani
Nicolò Timpano
Tommaso Orlandi
Emanuele Gotuzzo
MINKA
Website designed by Federico Girotto
Funded by the European Union
(Grant Agreement No 101214613)
Start date - End date: 1 June 2025 - 30 November 2027
Type of Action:HORIZON-CSA : HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Photo credits
Alberto Carmagnani
Nicolò Timpano
Tommaso Orlandi
Emanuele Gotuzzo
MINKA
Website designed by Federico Girotto
Funded by the European Union
(Grant Agreement No 101214613)
Start date - End date: 1 June 2025 - 30 November 2027
Type of Action:HORIZON-CSA : HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Photo credits
Alberto Carmagnani
Nicolò Timpano
Tommaso Orlandi
Emanuele Gotuzzo
MINKA
Website designed by Federico Girotto