The ENHANCE initiative, funded by the European Union, commences its three-year endeavor aimed at the protection of coastal ecosystems.
DECEMBER 2024 | The newly initiated Horizon Europe project, ENHANCE (Enabling One Health Coastal Management through advanced AI over Marine Copernicus and Citizen Science Data), unites seven partners from four European countries. The primary objective of this project is to protect coastal ecosystems from the escalating threats posed by eutrophication, climate change, and anthropogenic pressures on coastal environments. Additionally, ENHANCE seeks to promote sustainable coastal management by addressing these pressures and their implications for human, animal, and environmental health.
ENHANCE is funded under the “Digital, Industry, and Space” pillar of Horizon Europe, with a total budget of €1.7 million, fully funded by the European Union. The project is coordinated by Dr. Stamatia Rizou from SingularLogic in Greece, with scientific coordination provided by Vice-Rector Professor Chrysi Laspidou and Professor Charalambos Billinis, the Rector of the University of Thessaly, who serves as the Deputy Scientific Coordinator of the project. It unites a multidisciplinary consortium aimed at tackling coastal eutrophication and other environmental challenges in coastal regions through the development of innovative tools and methodologies.
Coastal zones, which occupy only 20% of the Earth’s surface, are vital for environmental, economic, and social reasons, housing 45% of the global population. However, they are increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change, leading to issues like eutrophication and biodiversity loss.
The ENHANCE initiative aims to address these challenges through a One Health-based decision-support system that integrates human, animal, and environmental health into coastal management. Utilizing AI-driven analytics, remote sensing data, and citizen science, ENHANCE will provide real-time insights and predictive tools for policymakers and stakeholders.
Key Innovations of ENHANCE:
- Adopt the One Health approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health within the established DPSIR framework to ensure sustainable solutions.
- Create the ENHANCE Open One Health data platform, to integrate and harmonize diverse data sources, such as Copernicus Marine Service, EGNSS services, and citizen science, ensuring comprehensive monitoring and accessibility.
- Leverage advanced AI models for eutrophication prediction by utilizing integrated data gathered with the ENHANCE Open One Health data platform to provide early warnings and insights into environmental pressures.
- Deliver a decision-support toolkit for policy and business, providing actionable insights for local authorities, aquaculture businesses, agricultural stakeholders and environmental agencies
- Co-create and foster stakeholder engagement through Living Labs, actively involving communities, scientists, and policymakers to develop practical solutions and climate-resilient strategies.
ENHANCE will test and refine its technologies through two real-world case studies:
- Catalan coast, Urban Beaches & Ebro Delta, Spain: Addressing urban wastewater pollution and aquaculture pressures, monitoring water quality degradation, eutrophication, and biodiversity shifts.
- Pagasitikos Gulf, Greece: Studying climate-induced flooding impacts on coastal health, ecosystem resilience, and human well-being.
These case studies will demonstrate the scalability of ENHANCE tools while providing evidence-based recommendations for coastal governance and management.
ENHANCE seeks to enhance early-warning systems, support data-driven policymaking, and promote sustainable practices in fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism, while reinforcing European leadership in marine data applications.
ENHANCE initiated its mission in December 2024, with the consortium formally launching the project’s activities during a two-day hybrid meeting held in Athens, Greece, on December 9th and 10th, 2024. This assembly, organized by SingularLogic (Greece), the project coordinator, convened over 20 representatives from partner representatives and laid the groundwork for a collaborative endeavor lasting three years.
For additional information, please refer to the press release.
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