Use of X-Band Radars to Monitor Small Garbage Islands

Abstract

The aim of this work is to verify and demonstrate the possibility of using X-band radars to identify, discriminate, characterize and follow small floating aggregations of marine litter (Small Garbage Islands—SGIs) made up mainly of plastic debris. To this end, a radar measurement campaign was carried out on a series of controlled releases into the sea of SGI modules assembled in the lab using the waste collected along a beach near the port of Livorno, in Tuscany, where the X-band radar of the Institute of Bioeconomy (IBE) of the National Research Council (CNR) is installed. The results of this first measurement campaign, which are illustrated in this preliminary work, are of interest to the entire scientific community that operates in the field of macroplastics analysis and monitoring, opening a new experimental avenue for the use of X-band radars also to monitor plastic waste at sea. Furthermore, the results obtained suggest good prospects for the use of X-band radars also for the study of coastal hydrodynamics on a local scale as well as in areas where it would be difficult to carry out measurements employing other technologies.

Towards a Global Surveillance System for Lost Containers at Sea

“…Radars are effective in the detection of masses of marine debris floating in the sea, as shown in [61,62], as well as in maritime rescue tasks [63]. Moreover, in the field of ship detection of debris of small and container-like dimensions, the potential of this technology has been demonstrated [64].…”

Analysis of the limits for the detection of small garbage island immersed in clutter radar

“…To verify the ability of an X-band radar to identify and track small aggregations of floating waste in the sea and to have repeatable and standardizable measurements, it was first of all necessary to manufacture in the laboratory 4 SGI modules with the following characteristics: a module/target T0, of the size 1 m x 1 m, consisting of mixed waste, which approximates the small aggregates of floating garbage; a module/target T1, measuring 1 m x 1 m, consisting mainly of plastic; a module/target T2 consisting of the union of three plastic bottles held together by a plastic band; a module/target T3 consisting of a single plastic bottle. For a detailed analysis on the construction methods of the modules used for the experiments, readers are referred to [26].…”

“…signaling beacons: Buoy 1, Buoy 2, Buoy 3; boat and port infrastructures). For an in-depth analysis of the radar signal received and reflected by the targets, readers are referred to [26].…”

“…The study of the intensity of the backscattered radar signal from plastic targets floating on the sea surface [26] has shown that in calm sea conditions and almost no wind, X-band radars are able to discriminate and characterize these kinds of objects. The purpose of this report is to identify the limits of the detection capability of X-band radars, as the state of the sea increases.…”

Developing Beach Litter Monitoring System Based on Reflectance Characteristics and its Abundance

“…Then, the authors obtained the profile with blue and green bands are higher DN values, reaching 255, where the red band is lower than both bands. blue and green bands are reaching 255 because the object color is mixed between blue and green color, close to ocean green color (RGB: 72,191,145). Figure 8d shows a plastic bag with green color; because the color is green, so this object is dominant in green band (DN=248) and other bands are lower.…”