During the SUBMERGED 2024-2025 season, we tackled a significant global challenge: insufficient oceanic data collection. Researchers struggle to obtain timely and comprehensive data on key ocean parameters such as acidity, temperature, oxygen saturation, and turbidity.
Our solution: Mass Marine Monitoring—a unique, cost-effective measurement device attached to commercial ships. These devices continuously sample ocean water across vast areas, transmitting data in real-time to a centralized database.
Our innovation is transformative because it leverages existing maritime traffic, significantly expanding monitoring coverage without the high costs of dedicated expeditions.
We developed our idea by consulting extensively with marine experts, such as Professor Rami Klein from Tel Aviv University, and marine professionals Gal Nixon and Yossi Roth, who provided crucial input on device placement and connection methods on ships.
We demonstrated the practical effectiveness of our project using a tangible model ship that showed real-time changes in water acidity. Additionally, we evaluated the potential future inclusion of acoustic sensors and cameras, carefully weighing their costs and benefits.
To encourage widespread adoption, we proposed incentives for ship owners based on successful models such as Mobileye, including potential tax breaks or fishing fee discounts.
This innovative approach aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, positively impacting marine research, weather forecasting, vessel management, and global environmental health.