SciTransfer
IMPRESSIVE · Project

Smart Pollution Detection System for Ports Using Satellites, Drones, and Autonomous Boats

environmentPilotedTRL 7
impressive-project.eu

Imagine a port that can spot an oil spill the moment it happens — from space, from a drone overhead, and from a robot boat on the water, all feeding into one control screen. That's what this project built: a combined surveillance and rapid-response system that watches harbors around the clock using satellite images, autonomous surface vehicles, and drones. When pollution is detected, the system predicts where the spill will drift and helps port authorities act before it spreads. It was tested in three real Mediterranean ports to prove it works under actual operating conditions.

By the numbers
3
Operational pilot tests completed at real ports
13
Consortium partners involved
6
Countries represented in the consortium
5
SMEs in the consortium
3
Sentinel satellites used (1, 2, 3)
10
Total project deliverables
The business problem

What needed solving

Ports and coastal areas face constant risk of oil spills and illegal wastewater discharges from ship traffic, refueling operations, and industrial activity. When pollution events occur, port authorities often lack real-time detection capabilities and coordinated response tools, leading to delayed reactions and greater environmental and financial damage. Current monitoring is fragmented — satellite data, on-water sensors, and drone surveillance rarely work as one integrated system.

The solution

What was built

The project built a relocatable platform that combines satellite monitoring (Sentinel 1, 2, 3), autonomous surface vehicles with sampling equipment, drones with remote sensing instruments, and hydrodynamic drift-and-fate forecasting models — all controlled from a single harbor control post. Three operational pilot deployments were completed with full pilot reports delivered.

Audience

Who needs this

Port authorities managing pollution risk in busy harborsEnvironmental monitoring companies serving coastal clientsMaritime insurance firms assessing pollution exposure in port areasCoastal municipalities responsible for water quality near harborsOil and gas terminal operators needing spill response capability
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Port Operations & Harbor Management
enterprise
Target: Port authorities and harbor management companies

If you are a port authority dealing with the constant risk of oil spills and illegal discharges in your harbor — this project developed a real-time monitoring platform combining Sentinel 1, 2, 3 satellite data with autonomous surface vehicles and drones that detect pollution events and forecast their drift. The system was validated in 3 operational pilots at Puerto de la Luz, Taranto, and Rafina ports. It gives your control room a single dashboard for surveillance, alerts, and emergency response coordination.

Environmental Monitoring Services
mid-size
Target: Environmental consultancies and marine monitoring firms

If you are an environmental monitoring company that needs to track coastal water quality and pollution risks — this project created integrated risk mapping services based on satellite remote sensing time series and hydrodynamic models. The platform processes Sentinel satellite images to identify oil spills and wastewater discharges in near real time. With 13 partners across 6 countries contributing to this system, it represents a ready-to-license technology stack for expanding your coastal monitoring capabilities.

Maritime Insurance & Risk Assessment
enterprise
Target: Marine insurance underwriters and risk assessment firms

If you are a maritime insurer needing better data on pollution risk exposure in port areas — this project built risk mapping services that integrate historical remote sensing data with real-time monitoring and spill drift forecasting. The system covers the full chain from satellite detection to autonomous vehicle confirmation and sample collection. Tested across 3 Mediterranean ports, it can provide evidence-based risk profiles for underwriting decisions in harbor environments.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to deploy this system at our port?

The project data does not include specific pricing or per-unit costs. As an Innovation Action with 13 partners, the system integrates multiple components — satellite processing, autonomous vehicles, drones, and modeling software. Contact the coordinator to discuss licensing or deployment pricing for your specific port configuration.

Can this scale to ports larger or smaller than the pilot sites?

The system was designed as a 'universal-relocatable platform' according to the project objectives. It was tested across 3 ports of different sizes and configurations (Puerto de la Luz in Gran Canaria, Taranto in Italy, Rafina in Greece), suggesting adaptability to various port scales and layouts.

Who owns the IP and how can we license it?

The consortium of 13 partners across 6 countries developed this technology, coordinated by ARATOS NTOT NET LTD, a Greek SME. IP ownership and licensing terms would need to be discussed directly with the coordinator. The consortium includes 5 industry partners and 5 SMEs, suggesting commercial licensing paths are likely available.

Does this meet EU and IMO environmental regulations for port monitoring?

The system was built to support compliance with marine pollution management requirements in EU harbors. It uses official Copernicus Marine products and Sentinel satellite data from the EU's own Earth observation program. The 3 completed operational pilots demonstrate the system works within European regulatory environments.

How quickly does the system detect and respond to a spill event?

The platform provides near real-time satellite monitoring using Sentinel 1, 2, and 3 images combined with Copernicus Marine products. Once a pollution event is located, the system automatically generates drift and fate forecasts and can dispatch autonomous surface vehicles and drones for on-site verification and sampling.

Can this integrate with our existing port management systems?

The system was designed to be operated from the harbor control post, suggesting integration with existing port operations infrastructure. It combines satellite data, autonomous vehicle control, and forecasting into a single local rapid-response system. Specific integration requirements would depend on your current setup.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 13 partners across 6 countries (Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland) is well-balanced for commercialization. With 5 industry partners and 5 SMEs making up 38% of the consortium, there is strong commercial DNA alongside 4 research organizations and 1 university providing the scientific backbone. The coordinator ARATOS NTOT NET LTD is a Greek SME, meaning a commercially-minded entity led the project. The geographic spread across major Mediterranean maritime nations (Greece, Spain, Italy) plus Northern European tech hubs (Belgium, Netherlands) covers the key markets where port pollution monitoring matters most.

How to reach the team

ARATOS NTOT NET LTD is a Greek SME that coordinated the project. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to discuss licensing or deployment.

Order a report on this consortiumSee ARATOS NTOT NET LTD profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore deploying this pollution monitoring system at your port or coastal facility? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the project team and help navigate the technology transfer process.

Order a report on this topicMore in Environment & Climate
More in Environment & Climate
See all Environment & Climate projects →
Satellite-Based Water Quality Monitoring That Replaces Expensive Manual Sampling
EOMORES
Open →
Autonomous Water Drones That Collect Waste From Harbours and Waterways
WasteShark
Open →
Cloud Software That Maps the Seafloor from Satellite Data for Offshore and Coastal Companies
4S
Open →