 
We have mapped diverse seafloor habitats around the world—from assessing seagrass health in the Bahamas to mapping sea urchins in Japan and monitoring biodiversity in Guam (USA). Learn more about how our technology is applied by exploring our projects.

Germany

France

Greece

The Bahamas

Italy

Denmark

Dominican Republic

Guam

Japan

Turkey

Portugal

Curacao

Maldives

The Netherlands

Innovative solutions for your needs

#### How hyperspectral imaging and machine learning provide fast and accurate EIA data

![Offshore wind farm by ©Nicholas Doherty](https://jagged-fortunate-stamp.media.strapiapp.com/nicholas_doherty_p_ON_Bh_Dy_O_Fo_M_unsplash_fa0d6a2bc5.jpg)

Offshore wind farm developers are finding themselves at the center of several pressing global crises: energy sovereignty, climate change, biodiversity decline and food security. Geo-political instability and the need for clean energy drive a strong demand for more offshore wind, however concerns about the impact on marine ecosystems and fisheries are leading to more regulations.

The large area that offshore wind parks cover means there is an ongoing search for suitable locations and the construction of these structures has potentially a much bigger impact than oil and gas sites have. The pressure is on offshore developers and grid operators to demonstrate that the industry can meet the renewable energy demand, while safeguarding marine ecosystems. 

Streamlining the collection of relevant data to future proof offshore wind project design and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) is critical. There are many open questions. What are the actual impacts of current practices, what are the opportunities to incorporate more positive biodiversity impact into offshore wind development, and how do we measure this?

To keep offshore wind farm development viable, given these increasing expectations, innovative solutions from service providers are required. Combining state-of-the art technologies like automated uncrewed vehicles for data acquisition and AI for data processing can alleviate bottlenecks. When it comes to environmental assessments or habitat mapping, PlanBlue can offer a new solution to provide data and analysis to satisfy regulators, investors, and clients. Using automated data processing pipelines and advanced cameras and sensors, PlanBlue delivers insights on seafloor health, biodiversity, biomass, carbon stocks and more, at scale and almost instantly. 



#### What is the impact of offshore wind on marine ecosystems?

Concerns about the impact of offshore infrastructure development on the marine ecosystem are widespread. Seabirds caught in the blades, marine mammals disturbed by construction noise, and the delicate habitats on the seabed disrupted by sediment plumes. Increased awareness of the role of marine ecosystems in climate change mitigation strengthens the attention for these risks. However, another narrative is emerging as well, that of net positive impact. Offshore windfarms can be a refuge for marine life. 

A 2022 [article in Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44183-022-00003-5) notes that environmental impacts are often poorly addressed in the planning of offshore wind development and that there is a lack of empirical evidence to assess the full ecological risk on ecosystem structure. The conclusion is that negative impacts are less than first thought and that windfarms can have a net-positive impact on nature. However, the impact of any offshore wind farm on protected species and habitats will show high spatial variability and must be carefully assessed with respect to local conservation objectives and the affected species and habitats. Environmental impacts will also depend on the initial state and resilience of the area, which can change dramatically for some ecosystem elements. Data collection that is comparable overtime is of huge value to get better understanding of the impacts of offshore wind farm development through the stages, from construction to operation and eventually decommissioning.



#### Wanted: fast, reliable, and comparable data on marine habitats

To expand offshore wind in a responsible and compliant manner, accurate data is key. It’s needed during the design and development phase to ensure compliance and increase opportunities for nature positive impact, specifically it is needed for Environmental Impact Assessments. Later down the line it supports reliable sustainability reporting, for example as part of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure. 

[The Economist](https://impact.economist.com/ocean/sustainable-ocean-economy/the-oceans-silent-sentinel?The+Sustainability+Project=) stresses the importance of ocean observation data to leverage the potential of the ocean to fight climate change. According to their analysis, two-thirds of the US$52bn marine-based climate change economy hinges on ocean observations. This dependence on reliable data could intensify to 100% as climate change exacerbates the unpredictability of ocean condition and weather.

An important area where we lack detailed insights, is the physical loss and disturbance of benthic habitats, as large offshore wind developments and the high density of wind turbines may negatively impact biodiversity or seafloor integrity, according to above mentioned [article in Nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44183-022-00003-5).

![Offshore wind industry in scope. Source: [Economist Impact](https://impact.economist.com/ocean/sustainable-ocean-economy/the-oceans-silent-sentinel?The+Sustainability+Project=)](https://jagged-fortunate-stamp.media.strapiapp.com/offshore_wind_in_scope_a3328c73ab.png)


#### Benthic ecosystem assessments, fast, accurate, and at scale

At PlanBlue we have developed unique technology to tackle these knowledge gaps, combining advanced imaging (e.g. hyperspectral), underwater navigation, and machine learning. With our fully automated data processing and analysis, we provide in-depth and meaningful insights on marine ecosystems, fast and at scale. 

We deliver multi-layered seafloor maps with highly detailed insights on health, biomass, carbon sequestration potential, biodiversity, and pollution. The geo-referenced data is analyzed in a standardized and automated manner, which makes the results comparable over time. This is important to monitor impact before and across the entire lifecycle of windfarm development.

If you are interested to learn more about our services, please look at our [products](https://www.planblue.com/product).

How hyperspectral imaging and machine learning provide fast and accurate EIA data    

Habitat mapping for offshore wind MRV made easy

#### Report Launched by European Marine Board for Advancing Seas and Ocean Science

![©Francesco Ungaro](https://jagged-fortunate-stamp.media.strapiapp.com/habitat_mapping_d68d6ccf2f.png)

On June 17th, 2024, the European Marine Board (EMB) launched its Future Science Brief No. 11 on ‘Marine habitat mapping’ in Brussels. This significant report underscores the critical need for accurate and extensive marine habitat maps to support a variety of marine policies and ambitions, including the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the European Green Deal.

#### The Importance of Marine Habitat Mapping
Accurate marine habitat maps are essential for understanding and managing marine ecosystems. These maps are vital for policy implementation and environmental conservation. However, large areas remain unmapped, and existing maps often lack sufficient biological detail. Most current maps tend to focus on physical aspects, while higher resolution maps are necessary to better represent the linkages between the seabed and water column, and to consider the marine environment.

#### Key Highlights from the Report
The report highlights current methods and future trends in the acquisition of data from the seabed and water column via remote sensing and direct, in situ techniques. It discusses combining data to produce maps using modelling approaches and presents recommendations for adopting fit-for-purpose habitat classification schemes. It also provides an overview of what has been mapped and where within the European sea-basins, highlights the need to increase the quality and resolution of marine habitat maps. It identifies critical gaps in habitat types and geographic extent, including the coastal areas, the deep sea, Natura 2000 sites and other Marine Protected Areas across all regional seas. Finally, it describes the need to improve the assessment and communication of uncertainty and confidence in maps, and to make maps more easily accessible to a variety of stakeholders to increase their value for end-users and to the public for Ocean literacy.

Some of the key recommendations in the reports are to:
- ▪ Advance novel methods to increase the resolution of biological information within marine habitat mapping
- ▪ Focus on repeat mapping to understand temporal change, especially in ecosystem hotspots
- ▪ Promote the standardisation of mapping methods and outputs
- ▪ Encourage publishing of marine habitat mapping data according to the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) principles
- ▪ Support public-private research collaboration for the development of cost-effective mapping tools


![Our hyperspectral imaging technology offers the potential to collect more detailed and efficient in situ mapping data.](https://jagged-fortunate-stamp.media.strapiapp.com/Auto_Ray_Mapping_1_90123b30cb.jpg)

#### Hyperspectral Imaging and AI
The report specifically discusses the limitations of traditional methods for higher-resolution mapping of the seafloor and the potential for new technology, like Hyperspectral Imaging, Photogrammetry and AI, core elements of PlanBlue’s technology. We’re very pleased with the endorsement for our work through their recommendation that “in the future, in situ data collection should aim to decrease costs through the greater use of autonomous platforms (i.e. AUVs) and AI for image processing”. For those more familiar with us you will spot PlanBlue’s technology in the image on page 21.

The authors support our message with their conclusion that the application of AI techniques, such as machine learning and deep learning, have the potential to contribute to and revolutionise many aspects of marine habitat mapping, from the acquisition of data through to the production and interpretation of end products, including automated image analysis.
We would like to thank European Marine Board for the great work they are doing to advanced this field of work and highly recommend to everyone to read the [full report](https://www.marineboard.eu/sites/marineboard.eu/files/public/publication/emb_fsb11_marine_habitat_mapping_web_v11.pdf).

Report Launched by European Marine Board for Advancing Seas and Ocean Science.

The Future of Marine Habitat Mapping

![Protocol of reef surveys with the DiveRay](https://jagged-fortunate-stamp.media.strapiapp.com/teaser_coral_reef_transition_b55386a571.jpg)

In collaboration with the University of Guam, PlanBlue has published a peer reviewed article on the open access scientific platform PLOS ONE. The article discusses research supported by PlanBlue’s seafloor habitat mapping technology monitoring coral reef transition around the Pacific island of Guam.


PlanBlue’s technology, employing hyperspectral imagery, underwater navigation and machine learning algorithms, was used to assess the benthic cover of biotic and abiotic categories in 2019. The results were compared to manual photoquadrat surveys conducted by divers at the same time.


The study highlights the benefits of underwater hyperspectral imaging for habitat mapping. The analyses showed no significant difference between automatically classified benthic cover estimates derived from the hyperspectral scans and those coming from photoquadrats. These findings amplify underwater hyperspectral imaging can be an efficient and effective tool for fast, frequent, and accurate monitoring of dynamic reef communities.

To read the full article: [Coral reefs in transition: Temporal photoquadrat analyses and validation of underwater hyperspectral imaging for resource-efficient monitoring in Guam](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0299523)

PlanBlue’s seafloor habitat mapping technology supported scientific research to monitor coral reef transition in Guam. 

PlanBlue’s technology increases insights on coral reef transition

![Collecting seagrass data during a campaign in Nice, France.](https://jagged-fortunate-stamp.media.strapiapp.com/IHR_24_4735f39466.jpg)

Following a passionate talk from our Co-founder and CSO Hannah Brocke at last year’s Hydrographic Conference HYDRO 2023 in Genoa, we got invited to write an article in the International Hydrographic Review. The article, a joint effort from members across our talented team, authored by Hannah, Tadzio, Raja, Guy, Anna-Lea, Nils and Joost, and titled "[Closing the data gap: Automated seafloor health maps to accelerate nature-based solutions](https://ihr.iho.int/articles/closing-the-data-gap-automated-seafloor-health-maps-to-accelerate-nature-based-solutions/)", was published this week.

The article delves into the pivotal role of the oceans, specifically the seafloor, in addressing climate change and food security. Despite its significance, a lack of detailed data on the seafloor hampers informed decision-making by policymakers, impedes sustainable blue economy investments, and hinders the development of blue carbon and biodiversity credit markets. The discussion encompasses the significant role of the seafloor as a carbon sink, the necessity for credible data in ocean conservation, and the crucial link between seafloor mapping and effective marine spatial planning. 

We discuss our solution using advanced imaging, underwater navigation, and machine learning to automate seafloor mapping. Given the importance of seafloor data, and the barriers to access this data, we explain how our technology can improve the understanding of the ocean's potential. Our approach not only adds speed and scale to data collection but also provides multi-layered insights into species health, biomass, biodiversity and more, contributing to the credibility of marine conservation efforts.

We conclude with a summary of how different scientific reviews have confirmed the accuracy and meaningfulness of our methodology, validating the transformative impact on the blue carbon industry and seafloor habitat monitoring.

To dive into the topic in detail, you can find the full article here:
[Closing the data gap: Automated seafloor health maps to accelerate nature-based solutions](https://ihr.iho.int/articles/closing-the-data-gap-automated-seafloor-health-maps-to-accelerate-nature-based-solutions/)


Following a passionate talk from our Co-founder and CSO Hannah Brocke at last year’s Hydrographic Conference HYDRO 2023 in Genoa, we got invited to write an article in the International Hydrographic Review.

Innovative solutions for your needs

Interested? Learn more about our solutions:

Habitat mapping for offshore wind MRV made easy

The Future of Marine Habitat Mapping

PlanBlue’s technology increases insights on coral reef transition

Closing the data gap: PlanBlue featured in International Hydrographic Review

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