The Project
SMART – Sustainable Management of Aquaculture through Remote sensing Technology – ended
SMART is a two-year project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) in the framework of the DUE Innovator III research programme, aimed at promoting the innovative use of satellite data.
The project, led by ACRI-ST, aims at providing remotely sensed Earth Observation (EO) products and services to the aquaculture industry for site selection, real-time monitoring and optimization of husbandry practices. SMART uses data from Medium and High Resolution optical missions and also exploits data from the presently operating and forthcoming Sentinel missions.
The project actively involves three end-users in Italy, Algeria and Vietnam, covering shellfish, finfish and prawn farming in coastal areas.
Role of Bluefarm
Bluefarm is ACRI-ST’s subcontractor in SMART. We complemented the main partner’s activity by using spatial time series of Sea Surface Temperature and other Ocean Colour variables, such as Chlorophyll-a, Secchi Disk, Light Extinction Coefficient, and Particulate Organic Carbon as inputs for a set of models which allowed:
- The identification of the most suitable areas for shellfish and fish farming
- The assessment of the environmental impact of shellfish, fish and prawn farms
- The short-term forecasting of shellfish and fish growth rate at specific farming sites
SMART User Workshop
The SMART User Workshop took place on the 20th of February 2017 at Bluefarm’s premises in Venice (Italy), and brought together all the SMART stakeholders: funder, partners and end-users.
It was an opportunity to review the methodology used in the construction of the various services. In this context, Bluefarm presented its validation work of EO data, combining sampled data from field measurements and statistical tools. We then went through the use we made of EO-validated data in order to build short-term forecasts of mussel growth made available to the end-users.
SMART User Workshop: Example of EO data validation methodology for Chlorophyll-a
It was also the occasion to exchange with the three end-users about the SMART services, their utility and the potential improvements that could be brought. SMART project activities allowed ACRI-ST and Bluefarm to bring to maturity several innovative services in the aquaculture and coastal management landscape.
SMART User Workshop: Example of end-user assessment on SMART innovative services
SMART Final presentation
The SMART Final Presentation took place in Frascati (Italy), at the ESA/ESRIN premises, on the 23rd of March 2017. Bluefarm presented a synthesis of the whole work done in the framework of the SMART project: from EO data validation to the final services made available to the end-users. It was a great moment of exchange with European EO professionals.
The SMART project allowed Bluefarm to further develop its extensive experience in aquaculture, and in particular in the use of EO data to build innovative services. We are now able to design better-focused services for the various stakeholders of the maritime and coastal management community.
SMART Final Presentation by ACRI-ST and Bluefarm, the 23rd of March at ESA/ESRIN (Frascati).