CERN’s data management expertise is being put to use to tackle marine plastic litter through a new EU project, Edge SpAIce.
Earth Observation (EO) and particle physics research have more in common than you might think. In both environments, fast and accurate data analysis is paramount, whether capturing fleeting particle collisions or detecting the ephemeral traces of ocean plastic.
This Earth Day, as we reflect on our responsibility to reduce plastics for our society and all life on Earth, we are pleased to announce a new EU project, Edge SpAIce, which applies CERN’s cutting-edge AI techniques to monitor Earth’s ecosystems from space and detect and track plastic pollution in our oceans.
“In particle physics, trigger systems play a crucial role in quickly deciding which data from particle detectors should be retained, given that only a small fraction of the 40 million collision snapshots per second can be recorded. The influx of data into the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has increased significantly in the last few years, and physicists and computer scientists are constantly innovating and upgrading this process. This is where AI technologies come in,” says Cioni Summers, a CERN physicist who works on the LHC’s CMS experiment and oversees the research.
Edge SpAIce is a joint project involving CERN, EnduroSat (BG) and NTU Athens (GR) coordinated by AGENIUM Space. Its aim is to develop an on-board system designed specifically for satellites that allows them to acquire and process high-resolution images using DNNs (Deep Neural Networks). The system uses an “edge AI” approach, where data is processed in near real time directly on the satellite, mirroring the efficient filtering of LHC data at CERN’s particle detectors. This means that not all captured data needs to be transmitted to Earth, but only the relevant information (in this case the presence of marine plastic litter). The system will also be deployed on European developed FPGA hardware, thus improving its competitiveness. This could open the door to a whole new market of EO services and applications.
As modern life becomes increasingly technology-dependent, the solutions offered by this project cleverly address the growing demand for data processing and the rapid expansion of Earth observation satellites. Eliminating the need for extensive processing in data centers on Earth not only reduces carbon emissions but also helps ease the strain on these facilities. This innovative approach could have broader applications in areas such as agriculture, urban planning, disaster relief and climate change. Furthermore, the technology will provide environmental scientists and policymakers with valuable data for targeted cleanup efforts. A better understanding of patterns of plastic pollution will improve our ability to effectively address environmental issues.
“AGENIUM Space is very pleased to find synergies with CERN in developing innovative solutions for the future of our planet,” said Dr. Andis Dembovskis, Business Development Director at AGENIUM Space.
The Edge SpAIce project demonstrates that creative thinking by partners from different disciplines can lead to collaborative knowledge transfer projects that address major societal challenges. To find out how CERN’s other knowledge transfer and innovation projects are having a positive impact on the environment, please visit https://kt.cern/environment.
