The AI4SEA project aims to advance our understanding of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and their restoration through the use of cutting-edge technologies such as marine robotics and artificial intelligence. At the SARTI research group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), we contribute to this goal by integrating autonomous monitoring of Posidonia cultivation tanks and robotic mapping of the seagrass meadow off Vilanova i la Geltrú.
Monitoring of the Posidonia oceanica tanks at the SARTI-UPC facilities has been carried out through the continuous real-time measurement of temperature and salinity, two critical parameters for the survival and development of this seagrass species. This continuous monitoring helps reduce plant stress and ensures that the rhizomes remain under optimal conditions prior to their transplantation into the OBSEA experimental area.
By combining marine robotic platforms with acoustic sensors such as side-scan sonars, Posidonia seagrass meadows can be surveyed and mapped autonomously from the surface. AI4SEA aims to develop AI-based data acquisition and processing methodologies to monitor temporal changes in individual meadows and evaluate restoration efforts. These technologies provide valuable information for ecosystem management and decision-making regarding one of the Mediterranean Sea’s most ecologically important and sensitive habitats.