Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/977918
13 maltatoday SUNDAY 6 MAY 2018 News YANNICK PACE A local oceanography research group has successfully developed a method for using a drone to monitor and assess beach litter. In a paper published in the journal Marine Pollution Bul- letin, Alan Deidun, Adam Gauci and Serena Lagorio describe a method for using an off-the-shelf drone to monitor beached litter along Maltese coastal stretches and generate density maps for it. By doing so, the researchers were able to determine the type of litter present on each beach. The authors said this would be a cost-effective alternative to tra- ditional, time-consuming moni- toring of beached litter involv- ing extensive human resources, besides assisting in the monitor- ing of difficult-to-access coastal stretches. Deidun told MaltaToday that the European Commission's Ma- rine Strategy Directive requires member states to analyse trends in the occurrence of beached lit- ter and that the method devel- oped could prove useful in this regard. The approved MSFD monitor- ing programme for the Maltese islands proposes that every three months, visual surveys by human observers are conducted on two recreational beaches along two 100m-long stretches on each beach and said the method could be used to fulfil this requirement. In the study, three coastal stretches at Baħar ic-Cagħaq and Qawra Point were regularly mon- itored via drone. The captured images were then imported into Google Earth and litter dentistry mapped. Following a ground ver- ification exercise, litter was then quantified as plastic, rope, wood, rubber or 'other'. While useful in meeting Malta's MSFD requirements, the method could also be used to guide clean- up efforts around the island. Deidun said he had so far met with a number of NGOs, includ- ing Zibel, Say No To Plastic and Din l-Art Helwa to discuss ways in which the method can be used in clean-ups. "The next step is to scale it up and explore ways of using it on a national level," Deidun said. "It can help prioritise areas for clean-ups and map out where and how the litter is being gener- ated." Deidun, who was recently ap- pointed Malta's United Nations Oceans Ambassador, said the group had applied for EU funds to buy more drones, which would allow them to cover a wider area. The group has also bought an un- derwater drone, which it plans to use to map out underwater habi- tats in a similar manner. The method's use is not limited to litter. "When you import the data into software like Google Maps, its functionality explodes," Dei- dun said, adding that there were many different potential applica- tions for the method, including some he probably hadn't thought of yet. Combining litter distribution data with information about hu- man activity could identify pat- terns of behaviour and the re- sulting environmental effect and guide policy decisions like deter- mining where to place bins, and how often they need emptying. In addition to monitoring litter, drones could be used to moni- tor phenomena such as jellyfish blooms or illegal dumping of oil and waste by ships. "We're also exploring having drones with dif- ferent types of sensors that would allow more specialised data to be collected for the testing of water quality, for example," Deidun added. Deidun did not exclude pitch- ing it to government over the coming weeks. With the proof of concept having been a suc- cess, he said the main challenge was now to join the dots and look for more innovative uses for the technique. Drones: a game- changer in keeping beaches clean JAMES DEBONO PLANS have been presented for an enormous regional park along fortifications in the Bormla, Zab- bar and Fgura area. The park set to become the "Sa- lini of the south" promises to in- clude walking and jogging tracks, a dirt car track, a zip line, a dog park, a beach volley area, an outdoor gym, adventure areas, a skate park and extensive picnic areas. The sizeable dirt car track will be developed next to the dockyard's car park at Ghajn Dwieli. The entire project will span along the St Aloysius and St James bas- tions, and the Polverista and Zab- bar gates. The land is described as being "dilapidated" in the applica- tion but it also includes afforested land. The site was identified as one of a number of "public urban open spac- es" in the South Malta Local Plan. These sites can be "upgraded" for public recreational facilities in the form of children play ar- eas or landscaped seating areas for use by the general public. The open nature of these sites has to be retained and only low key en- vironmental improvements can be allowed. The application has been pre- sented by Chris Bonnett, Senior Consultant at Parliamentary Sec- retariat for Youth, Sport and Vol- untary Organisations. The regional park would cover 95,000 square metres next to the island's southern fortifications Regional park for Bormla, Zabbar and Fgura