MultiFlu

Project description

Access to the North Sea coast and the sea, the maritime economy and the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site have a decisive influence on the direction of specialisation in Lower Saxony. Environmental and climate protection play a decisive role in the economic positioning of companies, e.g. in shipping through green shipping, while in the coastal area in particular a large number of anthropogenic factors, e.g. nutrient inputs from agriculture, can lead to undesirable consequences for the ecosystem and its users, including economic losses. The use of bio-optical sensors is indispensable for protection and compliance with the European FHH area protection and the Water Framework Directive (MSFD) over large spatial and temporal scales, as well as for continuous monitoring of process water in shipping.

In the MultiFlu project, bio-optical fluorescence sensors for water quality measurements are being further developed in co-operation with the Lower Saxony SME TriOS. These include sensors with newly developed fluorescence technology in a multi-channel concept as well as sensors that utilise mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets for control. Through the consistent implementation and testing of new concepts, the prototypes are being developed into application and marketable products. In addition, detailed investigations will provide information on a possible extension of the range of applications to other parameters. In order to strengthen co-operation with users from the maritime industry and environmental protection, professional users in shipping and environmental monitoring, as well as citizens and tourists, are involved with Briese GmbH and the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park Authority.

The objectives of this project will be implemented in the following steps:

1. Validation and optimisation of sensor hardware and software
2. Evaluation, specification and standardisation for an extension of the parameters for different algae
1. different types of algae by determining suitable excitation and detection wavelengths,
2. Extension to cyanobacteria,
3. Novel algorithms for the influence of scattering in turbid samples / scattering by particles
3. Testing the prototypes in the field, for example on scientific ship campaigns such as the research vessel "Sonne", or with specialised user groups (UNESCO World Heritage Site Lower Saxony Wadden Sea)
4. Optimisation of new control paths via mobile end devices of the sensors

The concepts presented are also the basis for an extension to industry-specific parameters beyond the project period, such as various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or different (technical) humic substances.

Project leader

Institute of Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), AG Marine Sensor Systems

Contact persons

Project leader:

Co-operation partner

• Institute of Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Marine Sensor Systems Group
• TriOS Mess- und Datentechnik GmbH, Rastede
• Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co KG, Leer

Duration

3 years (March 2017 - February 2020)

Financing

NBank (European Regional Development Fund, ERDF)