Golden Seal Project: An IoT-Driven Framework for Marine Litter Monitoring and Public Engagement in Tourist Areas
Source abstract
Abstract
This paper presents the research outcomes of the Golden Seal project, which addresses the omnipresent issue of plastic pollution in coastal areas while enhancing their touristic value through the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies integrated into a gamified recycling framework. The developed system employs an IoT-enabled Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to systematically collect, transmit, and analyze environmental data. A centralized, cloud-based platform supports real-time monitoring and data integration from Unmanned Aerial and Surface Vehicles (UAV and USV) equipped with sensors and high-resolution cameras. The system also introduces the Beach Cleanliness Index (BCI), a composite indicator that integrates quantitative environmental metrics with user-generated feedback to assess coastal cleanliness in real time. A key innovation of the project’s architecture is the incorporation of a Serious Game (SG), designed to foster public awareness and encourage active participation by local communities and municipal authorities in sustainable waste management practices. Pilot implementations were conducted at selected sites characterized by high tourism activity and accessibility. The results demonstrated the system’s effectiveness in detecting and classifying plastic waste in both coastal and terrestrial settings, while also validating the potential of the Golden Seal initiative to promote sustainable tourism and support marine ecosystem protection.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution · Water Quality Monitoring Technologies · Smart Parking Systems Research
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University Athens, Ir. Politechniou 9, Zografou, 157 73 Athens, Greece
Funding
European Regional Development Fund of the European Union
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
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