The LIFE SEADETECT project, designed to reduce ship-whale collisions through advanced maritime detection technology, has submitted its candidacy for the 44th EARSeL Symposium (European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories). This prestigious event, scheduled from May 26 to 29, 2025, in Prague, Czech Republic, serves as a global platform for showcasing innovative remote sensing technologies addressing environmental challenges. If selected, LIFE SEADETECT will have the opportunity to highlight its technological breakthroughs and its impact on marine biodiversity conservation.
The challenges addressed by LIFE SEADETECT
Protecting whales amid increasing maritime traffic
Ship collisions are a growing threat to large whales, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, a biodiversity hotspot under heavy maritime pressure. These incidents not only cause significant environmental losses but also result in economic costs for shipowners and safety risks for crews and passengers.
Aligning with EARSeL’s core themes
EARSeL Symposium emphasizes leveraging remote sensing technologies to solve pressing environmental issues. LIFE SEADETECT’s candidacy perfectly aligns with this mission, demonstrating how advanced multisensor systems can protect marine mammals while enhancing maritime safety.
Technological innovations of LIFE SEADETECT
The project revolves around an integrated maritime detection system designed to identify whales and alert crews in real time. Below are the key innovations that will be highlighted if the candidacy is accepted:
1. A Cutting-Edge optronic system
The optronic system uses a combination of panoramic and gyrostabilized cameras, paired with deep learning algorithms, to detect whales and unidentified floating objects (UFOs). This technology ensures precise detection day and night.
2. Complementary Radar and 3D LiDAR Monitoring
- Radar: Provides 360° scanning and advanced filtering to isolate whale signals from environmental noise such as waves and rain.
- 3D LiDAR: Adds localized high-resolution detection by creating detailed point clouds, enhancing the overall robustness of the system.
3. Command and Control (C2) Center
The centralized C2 system integrates data from all sensors, validates detections, and triggers alerts, enabling crews to take timely preventive actions.
4. Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM)
A passive acoustic monitoring network detects whale presence based on their unique sound signatures, complementing visual and radar data for comprehensive coverage.
The importance of the EARSeL Symposium candidacy
A platform for scientific recognition
The EARSeL Symposium is a leading international event for showcasing advancements in remote sensing. If selected, LIFE SEADETECT will have the opportunity to present its findings, including:
- Results from 2024 testing near the Pelagos Sanctuary.
- Initial operational deployments on two La Méridionale ferries in 2025.
- Plans for adapting the system to operate in Nordic environments, such as on the Belgian research vessel RV Belgica.
A gateway for international collaboration
The Symposium also serves as a hub for building partnerships with researchers and industry experts, expanding the project’s reach and impact.
Supporting European environmental policies
Participation would underscore LIFE SEADETECT’s alignment with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, showcasing its contribution to combating biodiversity loss.
Nexvision: A Key Partner in LIFE SEADETECT
As a specialist in optronic systems, Nexvision plays a pivotal role in developing the cutting-edge technologies integrated into LIFE SEADETECT. By providing expertise in advanced vision solutions and data processing, Nexvision ensures the system’s accuracy and reliability. If the project’s candidacy is accepted, Nexvision’s involvement will further highlight its contributions to remote sensing and marine conservation at the EARSeL Symposium.
Why this candidacy is important for LIFE SEADETECT
Validating technological achievements
The EARSeL Symposium offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate LIFE SEADETECT’s scientific and technological relevance while receiving valuable feedback from the international community.
Extending project impact
Participating in the Symposium would open doors to strategic partnerships and identify new opportunities for transferring the system’s technologies to other maritime contexts.
Contributing to global environmental policies
Finally, this candidacy reinforces the project’s alignment with European priorities in biodiversity and sustainability, positioning LIFE SEADETECT as a model technological solution for environmental preservation.
In conclusion, LIFE SEADETECT’s candidacy for the 44th EARSeL Symposium reflects the project’s ambition to establish itself as a global leader in maritime detection and biodiversity protection. By showcasing its technological innovations and collaborative approach, the project demonstrates how innovation can address today’s pressing environmental challenges. If selected, this event will mark a significant milestone in promoting LIFE SEADETECT and its partners, including Nexvision, within the international remote sensing community.
