In recent years marine observation based on volunteer participation, an example of citizen science, has provided environmental data with unprecedented resolution and coverage. The citizen-science–based approach has the additional advantages of engaging people, raising awareness and increasing knowledge of marine environmental problems. The technological advances in embedded systems and sensors enable citizens to create their own devices (do-it-yourself -DIY- technologies) for monitoring the marine environment. Within the context of the Citclops project [www.citclops.eu], a DIY instrument mounted on a buoy was developed to monitor changes in water transparency as a water-quality indicator. The instrument, named KdUINO, is based on quasi-digital sensors controlled by an open-hardware (Arduino) board. The sensors measure light irradiance at different depths and the instrument automatically calculates the Kd light diffuse attenuation coefficient, to quantify water transparency. Several workshops in high schools were carried out to show the students how to construct their own buoy. Some of them used the buoy to develop their own scientific experiments. Furthermore, in order to engage students more motivated in artistic disciplines, the authors developed a sonification system that allows creating music and graphics using KdUINO measurements as input data.
Piera, J., Bardají, R., Simon, C., Ceccaroni, L., Eznarriaga, L., Tejeda A., Velickovski, F., Steblin, A. and Pous, M.
Innovative technologies (DIY instruments and data sonification) for engaging volunteers to participate in marine environmental monitoring programs
2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting
Cosponsored by: AGU, ASLO and TOS
New Orleans, USA