The ENHANCE project is proud to announce the release of its first two case study factsheets, offering a closer look at how the project is addressing pressing challenges in Mediterranean coastal zones.
Coastal areas are vital spaces for biodiversity, recreation, and local economies, but they face growing pressures from human activity and climate change. With a One Health approach, ENHANCE combines Earth Observation, citizen science, and stakeholder engagement to better understand these complex systems and support more sustainable coastal management.
Case Study 1 – Barcelona and the Ebro Delta (Spain)
Led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), this case study focuses on the Barcelona Metropolitan Area’s urban beaches and the Ebro Delta.
Urban beaches: visited by nearly 10 million people annually, these beaches are under intense human pressure, suffering from erosion, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of frequent storms.
Ebro Delta: one of Spain’s most important agricultural areas, heavily influenced by rice farming and aquaculture, which affect water quality and local ecosystems.
By combining Copernicus satellite data with participatory biodiversity monitoring, the case study aims to track eutrophication, sand erosion, and the impacts of agriculture and aquaculture on coastal waters
Led by the University of Thessaly (UTH), this case study explores how ecosystems recover from extreme climate events. In September 2023, catastrophic floods devastated Thessaly, washing pollutants, debris, and pathogens into the Pagasitikos Gulf.
The floods left severe ecological damage, with sediments, agrochemicals, and bacteria threatening both marine life and public health.
Researchers and citizen scientists are now monitoring how long it takes the Gulf’s ecosystem to “bounce back” — or whether it shifts permanently to a new, degraded state
This case study provides crucial knowledge for climate resilience, linking environmental monitoring with human and animal health concerns.
Stay tuned for upcoming releases as ENHANCE continues to work with local communities, scientists, and policymakers to co-create solutions for more sustainable and resilient coasts.
In mid-July, researchers from the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) teamed up with citizen science partners from Club Patí Vela de Barcelona for a coordinated field activity just off the coast of Barceloneta. The initiative was timed to coincide precisely with a Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite overpass, allowing the team to collect in-situ water quality data at the exact moment the satellite captured imagery of the area.
By collecting water samples to measure chlorophyll-a (an indicator of algae levels) and assessing water transparency at the exact moment a Sentinel-2 satellite passed overhead, ENHANCE and its partners in the area are able to cross-check satellite images with real-world conditions. This approach helps validate satellite-based observations and strengthens the project’s One Health dataset for monitoring the environmental quality of Barcelona’s urban beaches.
Collecting water samples for chlorophyll-a analysis — a key step in validating satellite data and assessing coastal water quality
To collect the data, the team used a mix of traditional and easy-to-build tools. One of them was the Secchi disk, a simple white or black-and-white disk that is lowered into the water to see how deep it goes before disappearing from view — a basic way to measure water clarity. They also used the KduPRO, a compact and affordable optical sensor designed for citizen science, which measures how sunlight fades with depth to estimate water transparency more precisely (measured as the diffuse attenuation coefficient, Kd). In addition, the team collected and filtered water samples to analyze chlorophyll-a levels in the lab, helping to validate the satellite images with detailed, ground-based data.
Using a mini Secchi disk to measure water clarity
Carlos Rodero, a marine biologist and PhD at ICM-CSIC, specialises in marine optics and citizen science. He develops low-cost DIY sensors to monitor water clarity, making science more accessible. As he explains: “These instruments are ideal for participatory science because they’re simple enough for volunteers to build and use. They help multiply the eyes on the sea and fill in the gaps where traditional scientific monitoring can’t reach.”
Eva Fló, a marine biologist and PhD at ICM-CSIC, has been studying marine water quality and human impacts on the ocean for over 24 years. Since 2018, she has focused on using satellite imagery — specifically ocean colour data — to track key indicators of water quality. Speaking about her work in the ENHANCE project, she explains: “Close to the coast, it’s harder for satellites to give clear readings because the signal can be affected by things like detritus or macroalgae. This is especially true in the Mediterranean, which is a shallow and nutrient-poor sea. By collecting data on chlorophyll-a and water transparency (Kd) directly under the Sentinel-2 satellite path, we can verify what the satellite sees and improve our understanding of coastal health.”
The KduPRO, based on a modular system of light sensors, measures the irradiance at different depths and estimates the Kd
These on-site measurements help confirm the accuracy of satellite data and make it easier to detect early signs of algal blooms, pollution events, or sudden changes in water clarity. This kind of information is crucial for protecting public health, marine ecosystems, and managing coastal areas.
The sampling was made possible thanks to the support of the local partners, showing how even small businesses can play an active role in expanding coastal knowledge. Similar sampling campaigns are planned in the coming weeks and months, carefully timed with Sentinel-2 satellite overpasses — and always weather permitting — to continue linking satellite images with real-world conditions.
Want to know more about this case study? Check out the factsheet in English and Catalan!
Bringing Robotics to the Coastline: ENHANCE Presented at the European Robotics Forum 2025
We’re proud to share that Sotiris Aspragkathos, software engineer at SingularLogic R&D and Innovation and a lead developer of ENHANCE’s AI-driven platform, represented the project at the European Robotics Forum 2025 the 25-27 March in Stuttgart, Germany.
Sotiris presented his paper titled “Coastal Management through Safe Event-Triggered Predictive Control for UAVs”, showcasing how drones—equipped with cameras and smart flight systems—can help monitor coastlines more safely and efficiently. His research focuses on making drones more responsive to changes in their environment, especially when tracking dynamic features like shifting shorelines.
This kind of flexibility is vital: coastal zones, which host nearly half the world’s population, are under growing pressure from pollution, climate change, and urban development. Sotiris’ work offers practical ways to monitor these areas without needing constant manual input, which can help authorities act quickly when problems arise.
His research includes successful tests where a drone tracked the movement of a shoreline in real time, staying focused on target despite changing shapes and conditions. Importantly, the drone only used its most resource-intensive processes when necessary, helping to save energy and extend flight time—two key benefits for long-term coastal observation.
This approach is a perfect match for ENHANCE’s mission: to combine artificial intelligence, satellite services, and community-driven data collection to better understand and protect coastal ecosystems. From analyzing biodiversity to supporting smarter environmental policies, ENHANCE is working to ensure Europe’s shores remain healthy and resilient.
Thank you, Sotiris, for bringing ENHANCE’s vision to the stage at ERF 2025 and highlighting how digital technologies can help protect some of the planet’s most vulnerable environments.
Co-Creating Coastal Resilience: Highlights from the ENHANCE Stakeholder Workshop in Volos
On 29 April 2025, the University of Thessaly (UTH) hosted its first stakeholder workshop in Volos, Greece, as part of Case Study 2 of the ENHANCE project, focusing on the Pagasitikos Gulf—a semi-enclosed marine ecosystem particularly vulnerable to pollution and climate impacts. The event, conducted in Greek, brought together experts and stakeholders from across sectors—environmental, veterinary, maritime, academic, and municipal—to shape practical, inclusive solutions for coastal management through the One Health lens.
The workshop opened with welcoming remarks from Prof. Chrysi Laspidou, Scientific Coordinator of ENHANCE at UTH, and Prof. Charalambos Billinis, Rector of the University of Thessaly. Participants then engaged in presentations and interactive activities that explored:
Current challenges in waste management, animal health, and environmental monitoring; Mapping stakeholder roles and responsibilities across institutions;
Co-designing user requirements for the ENHANCE digital platform and AI toolkit.
The event was a vivid demonstration of the One Health principle in action—recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in coastal ecosystems.
Throughout the discussions, participants surfaced urgent, real-world challenges. In the maritime sector, waste disposal practices—particularly for bilge water, ballast water, and dredged sediments—remain inconsistent, with concerns about weak enforcement and the sustainability of transporting liquid waste to Athens. The issue is compounded by insufficient monitoring of accidental pollution and anecdotal reports of illegal dumping.
Veterinary and agricultural stakeholders highlighted systemic issues such as weak biosafety controls, uncoordinated carcass and manure disposal, and limited oversight of antibiotic use in livestock, which could increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission and antimicrobial resistance. Concerns were also raised about the absence of a national strategy for animal incineration or burial, despite legal obligations for municipalities.
Meanwhile, environmental monitoring remains fragmented and infrequent, with limited data on the impact of inflows from Lake Karla, the changing seabed composition, and the long-term effects of extreme weather events like Storm Daniel, which dramatically altered water quality and sedimentation patterns in the gulf.
Participants stressed that effective coastal management depends on stronger institutional coordination. Actors such as veterinarians, port authorities, municipal governments, and environmental agencies need to operate under clearer roles and shared responsibilities. Upgrades in waste infrastructure, including manure processing, hospital and veterinary waste tracking, and secured disposal sites, were seen as urgent priorities to safeguard public and environmental health.
The discussion also revealed a broader need for cultural and systemic change. Public awareness about food traceability, seafood origins, and marine mammal protection remains low. There is no operational response network for stranded sea animals, and biosafety measures, such as disinfectant protocols at animal facilities, are largely absent. Fragmented data-sharing further limits coordinated action, particularly in response to heavy rainfall events that carry waste and contaminants directly into the sea.
The insights and concerns shared during the workshop—captured through the creation of user personas representing real stakeholder needs—will directly inform the development of the ENHANCE tools. These personas will guide the design of a user-friendly digital platform and decision-support system, tailored to local challenges in the Pagasitikos region. The event marks a key milestone in the project’s mission to develop user-driven, practical solutions that strengthen coastal resilience and support sustainable, integrated management practices across European coastal regions.
ENHANCE Showcased at ENRICH GLOBAL’s Third Innovation Days in Nice
From April 22 to 24, 2025, ENRICH GLOBAL held its Third Innovation Days and Multi-Event at the scenic Hotel Le Saint Paul in Nice, France. The gathering brought together over 40 key figures from the European research and innovation community to exchange knowledge, foster new partnerships, and shape future collaboration. This year’s focus was closely tied to the NexusNet COST Action, supporting systemic approaches to climate resilience.
One of the event’s highlights took place on April 23, during the NexusNet Legacy Forum, where Assistant Professor Giannis Adamos and Inna Petrenko delivered a joint presentation spotlighting four major Horizon Europe projects—ARSINOE, ENFORCE, NATALIE, and ENHANCE. Their intervention emphasised how these initiatives share integrated strategies and complementary methodologies to address the systemic challenges posed by climate change.
This presentation offered an excellent opportunity to reaffirm ENHANCE’s contribution to building climate-resilient pathways through co-creation, innovation, and practical solutions that connect communities and ecosystems.
The event also marked the launch of a newly established thematic group “Thriving cities and community resilience“, powered by ENRICH GLOBAL and chaired by Assist. Prof. Giannis Adamos. While not exclusive to any single project, this initiative resonates with ENHANCE’s mission to support cities and regions in navigating the impacts of climate change through collaborative action and nature-based solutions.
We extend our sincere thanks to ENRICH GLOBAL, Svetlana Klessova, and Inna Petrenko for their invitation and continued support, and to Chrysi Laspidou, Giannis Adamos, and Antonia Vronti for representing the ENHANCE project during this important event.
