New project to develop innovative methods for improved remote sensing of the seafloor in the Baltic Sea

The BONUS ECOMAP project started its three-year implementation on 1 September 2017.

This brings the number of projects funded from the ’BONUS call 2015: Blue Baltic’ to 12. A total amount of EUR 30 million will fund these projects for 2.5-3 years – until 2020.

BONUS ECOMAP will introduce new, innovative opto-acoustic remote sensing, mapping, and monitoring that will enable researchers to obtain a more comprehensive and holistic view on the Baltic Sea seafloor. Habitats that are considered indicators of ecosystem diversity and health, such as sea grass meadows, reef-building macrofauna and stone reefs will be remote sensed with latest technologies of hydroacoustics, adapted shallow seismics, customised in situ laser methods and state-of-the-art airborne lidar.

The project will deliver case studies valuable for the emerging market of environmental monitoring and spatial planning tools. It will also support companies and stakeholders to recognise assets and drawbacks of latest technology.

BONUS ECOMAP is coordinated by Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel in Germany. Other partners from Germany include Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, INNOMAR Technologie GmbH Rostock, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde and EOMAP GmbH & Co. KG in Seefeld. The Danish partners include Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland in Copenhagen and University of Copenhagen. From Poland, both NORBIT-POLAND in Sopot and University of Gdansk are participating in the project.

Find the press release at bonusportal.org

More information at io-warnemuende.de