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Hunting for plastic: new digital technology to find and map marine litter

When plastic first arrived on the scene, it was welcomed as a benefit for humanity. Fascinated, the French philosopher Roland Barthes envisioned “a plasticised world” in his book Mythologies (1957). Now Barthes’ vision has become reality, for better and worse, and enthusiasm for plastic has dwindled.

Fram Centre
Fram Centre

By: Frank Beuchel, Lionel Camus and Salve Dahle // Akvaplan-niva

Lost fishing gear, here from a shore in Finnmark, can make up to 50% of all plastic litter found on shores in northern Norway. In the period 1950-2015, we produced 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic, of which a considerable amount has ended up in the ocean as “marine litter”. Plastic degrades poorly in the ocean; it accumulates on the sea floor and shorelines, not only destroying scenic vistas but also posing a severe threat to marine life. Marine litter has also become a growing problem in the Arctic. While some mapping and characterisation has been done, there are major knowledge gaps about where the litter is distributed throughout the Norwegian, Barents, and Kara seas, and in the High Arctic in general. Photo: Frank Beuchel / Akvaplan-niva

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Air drones with high resolution and infrared cameras are used to map marine litter on shorelines. Drone pilot Morten Thorstensen from Akvaplan-niva. Photo: Frank Beuchel / Akvaplan-niva

Akvaplan-niva currently runs two major projects for litter mapping on shorelines and sea surface in Arctic Norway and Russia. In the project MALINOR (Mapping marine litter in the Norwegian and Russian Arctic Seas, financed by the Research Council of Norway) we use electrically powered aerial multicopter drones to validate novel technologies for mapping and predicting the quantity of accumulated litter.

This knowledge can be useful when planning beach-cleaning activities. We also investigate the potential of satellite images, using World View and Sentinel satellites to detect marine plastic debris on different beach types.

These data are verified against results from our drone mapping and ground sampling of litter.

The project DIMARC (Detecting, identifying, and mapping plastic in the Arctic using robotics and digital solutions), is funded by the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund, the largest private environmental fund in Norway, which supports projects aimed at reducing plastic waste and increasing plastic recycling. An important task in this project is the detection of lost fishing gear on shorelines. Lines, nets, buoys, and other fishing gear account for up to 50% of all recorded beach litter and can be harmful to animals such as seals and birds.

We also test the use of Wave Gliders – autonomous unmanned drones driven in an environmentally friendly manner by waves and solar energy – that can sample data for months at sea at a low cost. High-resolution cameras mounted on the gliders take pictures at certain time intervals to detect floating plastic debris. Photo: Akvaplan-niva
Drone image taken at 50 metres height above a beach in Finnmark, with plastic litter. Photo: Akvaplan-niva

Efficient data management in analysis of photos relies on the application of machine learning algorithms. Automated routines to pre-select photos containing litter are being developed. The first results from using artificial intelligence to analyse satellite images clearly demonstrate that lost fishing gear can be detected and identified. From drone images, several types of plastic can be quantified, down to a size of a few centimetres.

In order to determine the probable sources, trajectories, and fate of plastic litter in both the MALINOR and DIMARC projects, we will use the high-resolution ocean current model FVCOM, developed by Akvaplan-niva for the Barents Sea.

Using different model scenarios, we can simulate the drift of surface litter in the open sea, and predict where we can expect to find accumulation zones for marine litter on shorelines.

The goal is to develop a predictive tool for litter distribution. Importantly, we will disseminate our findings to students, the public engaged in beach cleaning, and policy makers in Norway, Russia and internationally (EU, UNEP, Arctic Council). The results will be communicated to local communities to assist them in beach cleaning, and to students for educational purposes.

Examples of analysis of different types of plastic debris from drone images using OBIA techniques in “eCognition”. Photos: Akvaplan-niva

Partners and technology:

Akvaplan-niva partners, which contribute in different ways: Maritime Robotics, IFREMER (France), SALT, TerraNor, Grid Arendal, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Zubov State Oceanographic Institute, WWF Barents Sea Office, Association Maritime Heritage: Sustain & Explore.

  • Technology used in these projects:
    Multicopter air-drones with high-resolution RGB and infrared camera systems for mapping of beach litter
  • High resolution satellite images from Word-view 3 satellites
  • Autonomous wave glider drones for quantification of offshore near-surface litter
  • Digital tools:
    Machine learning algorithms using the object-based image analysis with software package
  • “eCognition”, for both drone and satellite images
    GIS-based mapping tools and data handling

This story is originally published by the Fram Centre

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