EDSnet enters a new phase with new members and new ideas
Supported by SEEDA’s Knowledge Network Programme (KNP) the Environmental Decision Support Network (EDSnet) project has launched into its second year with some exciting new ideas and new members.
The environmental threat posed by shipping accidents, industrial activity (oil and gas, dredging and aggregates extraction), and a wide range of other pollution threats requires robust and effective decision support systems to assist those responsible in protecting the fragile marine environment and dealing with the potentially huge economic impacts of pollution incidents.
EDSnet has recently submitted two project bids under the European Framework 7 Programme to deal with this and related issues:
• CAMS (Coastal Ad Hoc Monitoring Service) This project will develop and validate a miniaturized, low-cost sensor package designed for short-term deployment on structures or vessels of opportunity such as small leisure craft or work boats. A range of novel micro-sensors for measuring biological and chemical water quality parameters will be developed and configured.
• EMSAC (European Marine Science Applications Consortium) This proposal seeks to establish a framework for long-term collaboration and investment involving key marine industries and the marine science base. This project will encourage the marine science community and the private sector to find areas of synergy where common initiatives can be developed, focusing particularly on major industrial sectors whose activities require marine scientific knowledge and capability.
Marine South East is expecting to learn if these bids have been successful in early July.
New members, new ideas
EDSnet is now working to identify further opportunities to develop a range of projects. At the latest network meeting on 22 June established network members were joined by a number of new recruits to identify and discuss new ideas for the network to pursue. Emerging ideas included:
o improved data gathering systems to monitor the effectiveness and impacts of coastal flood defences;
o systems to enable better international sharing of environmental data and improved data fusion techniques to gain better added value from its use;
o new methods to measure the impacts of activities such as aggregates and maintenance dredging;
o Improved methods for the collection of detailed data on water movements through the whole water column
o Systems to provide comprehensive data to assist with the planning and maintenance of off-shore marine renewable power facilities.
o Improved information about shipping traffic to assist with the planning of schemes to protect vulnerable marine environments.
o Improved trans-boundary co-operation and inter-operability of pollution control systems.
o Remote systems to identify marine pollution
Although a South East based network, EDSnet will engage with any company or organisation from further afield if they bring value to the network. One such company is Triskel Marine based in Fowey, Cornwall. Triskel travelled to Southampton to share their expertise and ideas with other network members. Triskel has expertise in oil boom design, innovative techniques for measuring noise from power boats, new technology and methods for charting surface water movement and networked data buoy systems.
Water Consumption and Quality - £500,000 to help companies work together
At SEEDA’s KNP Community Event in Guildford on 25 June Jonathan Williams of Marine South East and EDSnet led a workshop on Water Consumption and Quality. The event explored how quantity and quality aspects of water supply are intimately linked, and the need for an integrated approach in their management.
The ideas voiced during the workshop will help shape a call to be issued by SEEDA later this year. Up to £500,000 will be available for collaborative research and development projects.
If you would like to find out more about any of these projects contact Simon Powell by emailing simon@marinesoutheast.co.uk or log on to
http://www.southeastknp.co.uk/Networks/EDSN
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