Boost Applied munition detection through Smart data inTegration and AI workflows

ended

Large quantities of chemical and conventional munitions were dumped in the seas and oceans worldwide. The OSPAR’s Quality Status Report lists 148 dumpsites in the NE Atlantic and the North Sea alone; encounters of munitions amount to ~900 each year. Marine munitions constitute a serious safety risk for users of our coasts and seas, with growing environmental concerns. BASTA aims to Boost Applied munition detection through Smart data inTegration and AI workflows following three objectives: 1)Advance data acquisition through ultra-high-resolution 3D sub-bottom profiling and intelligent AUV-based magnetic mapping as part of an adaptive and iterative survey approach 2)Foster sustainable use of survey and WW I/II archived data within a multi-sensor database for advanced data processing of Big Data using artificial intelligence for detecting/identifying munition with uncertainty levels 3)Discuss and formulate the new tools, methods and workflows with all stakeholders to formalize advanced recommendations for industry and governments Our work plan includes a) the integration of magnetic sensors into a hover AUV and the implementation of smart routines for autonomous mapping. This development will be support b) through field trials and surveys including c) ultra-high-resolution SBP-mapping. D) A multi-sensor database will combine all data including the e) integration of quality metrics for specific measurements and final munition detection output. Objective and repeatable data analyses will be made possible by f) applying artificial intelligence methods using the multi-data-layer information of the database. Results include A) a demonstrator AUV for smart magnetic measurements of small areas, B) new processing routines and workflows for ultra-high-resolution SBP mapping, C) an operational demonstrator of the multi-sensors data base, D) AI workflows to detect and ideally identify munition on/in the seafloor, E) recommendations for a workflow that includes quality measures.