PIMEO AI targets the development and operational use in multiple representative environments of an artificial intelligence (AI) powered unmanned surface vehicle (USV) that is capable to perform complete suites of water quality measurements in all types of sensitive aquatic ecosystems. The resulting PIMEO AI USV will be a next-generation advanced analysis tool for studying sensitive ecosystems, identifying pollution sources, and mapping their environmental impact. It will fill an important market need for comprehensive water quality USVs, the market today being highly limited and aimed primarily at hydrology research.
PIMEO AI will use an embedded AI system to provide augmented (and eventually automated) piloting making use of machine-learning algorithms and will be connected to a secure cloud data platform to provide archival, centralization and analytics capabilities. Blockchain technology will be used to provide trust and traceability, such as securely managing the sensor data information as well as the identity of the stakeholders. Security and privacy compliance with GDPR will be ensured by implementing reliable, secure data transport and access.
PIMEO AI will be tested operationally in highly-sensitive and fragile ecosystems that are subject to increasing anthropic pressures. Three distinct ecosystems will be studied:
- France: a lake in a dense urban environment (Créteil lake), used for recreational activities but subject to regular pollution events;
- Romania: the Danube delta – one of the largest and the best-preserved European river deltas, subject to different types of pollution and eutrophication;
- Romania: coastal waters in the Constanta area, affected by frequent microbiological pollution episodes.
PIMEO AI has strong support of several key stakeholders: Grand Paris Sud-Est Avenir (France), Cluster EMS (France), Constanta National Company Maritime Port Administration (Romania) Cluster IND-AGRO-POL (Romania) and the Romanian Water National Authority (letters of intent).
