Project: JELLYfish FORecasting service based on Earth Observation

The JELLYFOR proposal has the aim to develop a new service to forecast the jellyfish occurrence for a given salinity, temperature and chlorophyll-a conditions._x000D__x000D_Jellyfish occurrence is a demanding social problem that has been increased lately due factors such as climate change. The social and economical impact is huge, affecting relevant sectors as tourism and fishing. Stakeholders are demanding tools to understand this phenomenon to manage prevention and response._x000D_Environmental problems are being solved currently using in situ data combined with geophysical models. _x000D__x000D_This combination gives a result without forecasting possibilities and is often discontinuous. The innovation proposed with this project consists in adding the satellite technology to these techniques in order to enlarge the coverage in near real time to have a better quality of the data._x000D_Salinity and temperature are known to be the more determinant factors influencing the habitat of jellyfish. _x000D__x000D_The measure of these parameters is crucial for the forecasting model. Other parameters, such as chlorophyll concentration and turbidity, are suspected to have an influence, and therefore will be taken into account in this study too. The jellyfish habitat models based on all these physical parameters will provide information on likelihood thresholds of each of them for the probability of jellyfish's occurrence._x000D_JELLYFOR will combine optical data with models and in situ measurements. The final output will be a GIS platform integrating all these products in order to provide a qualitative service to the users._x000D__x000D_The technological objectives of JELLYFOR are:_x000D_- To develop algorithms for the oceanographic characterization of the coast using satellite data, specifically hyper spectral sensors. Critical indicators are: chlorophyll, temperature and salinity_x000D_- To combine optical data with models_x000D_- To develop a GIS prototype platform integrating final outputs (exportable to Google Earth- 3D)_x000D__x000D_The potential market will be not only the public sector (water agencies, port authorities, local city halls, meteorological institutes) but also the private one (tourism, aquaculture, and any maritime related activity)._x000D_User involvement will guarantee the accuracy and fit for purpose of user requirements, validation and demonstration tasks. Users’ contributions will support the final JELLYFOR service according to the CO user requests._x000D__x000D_The JELLYFOR consortium is composed by the following Ps:_x000D_- Project leader : Starlab (SME, Spain)_x000D_- P: MUMM (Research centre, Belgium)_x000D_- P: Techworks (SME, Ireland)_x000D__x000D_A brief description of each P is provided below:_x000D__x000D_Starlab is a Spanish SME with the mission of increasing and accelerating the positive impact of Science on Society. Starlab is market-aware and market-driving. Its focus areas are Space (Technology and EO Services) and applied Neuroscience. These R&D areas will have great impact in and through several key markets, including Environment, Energy, Health and Space. The company targets technology and applications: the development of new sensors and efficient algorithms to extract information from data, identification of platforms and deployment opportunities, as well as the development of services and products. Starlab has positioned itself as Value Added Company (VAC) in the provision of operational EO services._x000D__x000D_The Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models and the Scheldt estuary, abbreviated to MUMM, is a department of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), a federal scientific establishment that comes under the Federal Science Policy (previously known as OSTC)._x000D_MUMM adopts a 'triple M' strategy: Modelling, Monitoring and Management._x000D_- Modelling: studying the ecosystems of the North Sea using mathematical modelling techniques, with a view to understanding how they function and to providing certain forecasting capabilities._x000D_- Monitoring: collecting marine information required to validate the models and make them operational, along with the various techniques used to assess the condition of the marine environment._x000D_- Management: representing Belgium in a number of inter-governmental conventions dealing with the protection of the marine environment._x000D__x000D_TechWorks Marine is a Irish SME that provides clients with world-class solutions to monitor the marine environment. The company supplies real-time data from their monitoring platforms. This real-time data enables their clients to make effective management decisions. TechWorks solutions are based on their proprietary data acquisition and transmission system the TechWorks Marine Black Box, (TMBB). The TMBB is designed for use in hostile environments delivering data via real-time telemetry to viewed online 24/7. TechWorks Marine are the exclusive Irish representatives for several of the world's leading manufacturers of oceanographic and meteorological sensors._x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D__x000D_ _x000D__x000D_

Acronym	JELLYFOR (Reference Number: 4669)
Duration	01/04/2009 - 30/09/2011
Project Topic	The JELLYFOR proposal has the aim to develop a new service to forecast the jellyfish occurrence for a given salinity, temperature and chlorophyll-a conditions. JELLYFOR will integrate optical satellite data, forecasting algorithms, and in situ measurements on a GIS prototype platform.
Project Results (after finalisation)	1. Model-based software for a jellyfish forecasting service has been developed and tested for the Catalan and Irish regions with respectively Earth Observation (EO) input (Catalan) and in situ data input (Irish) _x000D_2. Supporting EO software has been automated and generalised for application to any geographical region._x000D_
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 2

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
3	Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences (RBINS), Department VI (MUMM)	Partner	Belgium
3	Starlab Barcelona S.L.	Coordinator	Spain
3	TechWorks Marine Ltd	Partner	Ireland