📋 Tender Overview
Observing And Mapping Marine Ecosystems – Next Generation Tools
Innovative Tools For Marine Ecosystems Observationaccurate And Reliable Biological Ocean Observations Are Critical For Marine Resource Management. The Eu-Funded Obama-Next Project Will Develop A Toolbox For Generating Accurate, Precise, And Relevant Information To Describe Marine Ecosystems And Their Biodiversity. The Project Will Integrate New And Emerging Technologies, Including Remote Sensing, Edna, Optical Instruments, And Citizen Science, With Existing Marine Monitoring Techniques To Improve The Capacity To Describe Ecosystem Function And Biodiversity With Higher Spatial And Temporal Resolution. Obama-Next Will Involve Stakeholders In The Identification Of Products Needed In An Iterative Co-Creating And Specification Process. The Project Will Assess And Improve The Toolbox In 12 Selected Learning Sites, Representing Diverse Ecosystems And Data Sources Within The Four European Regional Seas.
Funded Under
Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture And Environment
Total Cost
€ 8 612 070,50
Eu Contribution
€ 8 612 068,50
Coordinated By
Aarhus Universitet
Denmark
Start Date
1 December 2022
End Date
30 November 2026
Objective
OBAMA-NEXT aims to develop a toolbox for generating accurate, precise and relevant information characterising marine ecosystems and their biodiversity. This will be achieved by integrating new/emerging technologies, including remote sensing, eDNA, optical instruments and citizen science, with existing marine monitoring techniques for improving our capacity to describe ecosystem function and biodiversity with higher spatial and temporal resolution. The project will contribute to shaping next generation monitoring programs and defining Essential Ocean/Biodiversity Variables (EOVs/EBVs). Stakeholders will be involved from the onset of the project to identify products needed in an iterative co-creating and specification process. These specifications will guide the application of algorithms, including advanced statistical analyses and artificial intelligence, which combine and translate different data sources into information products (i.e. maps and indicators) to fulfil stakeholders’ needs. Routines for visualisation and methods for uncertainty assessment are also important components of the toolbox development. The toolbox will be evaluated and improved based on 12 selected Learning Sites (LS), representing diverse ecosystems and data sources within the four European regional seas. The applicability of the information products, compiled with the toolbox on LS data, will be evaluated as input to models for predicting biodiversity and as support for environmental and biodiversity policies. The project will also assess the usefulness of the products with respect to the EU objective of designating an ecologically coherent MPA network and the applicability of C-burial rates in angiosperm habitats for carbon offsetting and Nationally Determined Co
