SAGAcE: A New Era in Environmental Monitoring and Pollution Control

The SAGAcE project, initiated by Apulia Region (POR Puglia FESR-FSE 2014-2020                                            Asse prioritario 1 – Ricerca, sviluppo tecnologico, innovazione Azione 1.6 “Interventi per il rafforzamento del sistema innovativo regionale e nazionale e incremento della collaborazione tra imprese e strutture di ricerca e il loro potenziamento” BANDO INNONETWORK – Aiuti a sostegno delle Attività R&S) and developed by Wide Pilot in collaboration with IDS Ingegneria Dei Sistemi S.p.A. (a Fincantieri NexTech Company) and other public and private entities, has reached a successful conclusion. This research and development initiative was aimed at reducing risks to human health and the environment caused by pollutants in the soil, air, and water through the creation of an advanced technological and methodological monitoring solution that surpasses current standards.

The SAGAcE project’s primary goal was to enable the collection of relevant environmental information from various settings, including coastal-marine, urban, and suburban areas. This was achieved through specific missions involving sensor-robotics and unmanned systems, which conducted targeted flights over potential pollution zones, as well as through sensors permanently positioned on buoys. The collected data facilitated the identification of potential pollutants and associated health and environmental risks, while also providing guidelines and best practices to mitigate the impacts of these pollutants.

The data acquired and processed through the innovative technologies proposed by the SAGAcE project were intended for the qualitative study of the marine environment, soil, and air. To ensure accessibility and usability, the project also focused on developing ICT solutions for data aggregation, visualization, and decision support, thereby guiding operators in the initial stages of analysis.

By generating new services, enabled by cloud infrastructures, the SAGAcE system offers valuable support to authorities and public entities. It aids in mitigating risks from pollutants that are buried, hidden on the soil surface, discharged or present in water, or spilled on the ground.

The successful conclusion of the SAGAcE project marks a significant advancement in environmental monitoring and protection, providing a robust framework for ongoing efforts to safeguard human health and the environment from the dangers of pollution.