Demo tests & training at sea - Batumi, Georgia, Phase I

Starting from the 11th till the 25th of October, the National Environment Agency of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia has implemented an important 2-week 2nd Pilot Demonstration Tests, Training and Marine Surveys using Innovative Monitoring Equipment in the Batumi-Gonio Bay.

NEA, with the financial support of the European Union within the Black Sea Basin Joint Operational Programme 2014-2020, has purchased a portable water-based CTD buoy platform that is an independent system, first located in the Black Sea of ​​Georgia and designed to monitor water quality. The device will measure three main marine parameters: water el. Conductivity, temperature and depth, online via GPRS communication, and continuously share data to the Project Partners. Demonstrations and trainings also included Biological and Chemical Sampling Surveys with Multi-sensor water-quality probe, BioSonics Echosounder Hydroacoustic data collection for fish assessment, Sealion2 Survey, trawling and sample collection, the ICT modelling/forecasting and GIS tools.

Despite the challenges due to the COVID-19, experts from TIMMOD project partners, AUTh and DDNI, successfully arrived in Georgia and alongside with the NEA top management and Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture, participated in the survey. Facing several challenges like bad weather conditions and exploration of unknown devices the team successfully completed all tasks included in the survey programme. 

It is noteworthy that, within the framework of the same project, Georgian specialists were able to participate in various international practical training or seminars, which helps to strengthen their capabilities, "- said the Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture, Nino Tandilashvili.

The Marine Surveys were organized and hosted by Project Partner 4,  the National Environment Agency, who provided the research vessel and the set of advanced monitoring sensors and instruments in Batumi, Georgia.

The main objectives of the demonstration survey were achieved, providing an excellent basis for further implementation of the TIMMOD work plan.

 

TIMMOD activities at a glance

Group Activity T1

Inventory and promotion of innovative environmental monitoring technologies for assessment of fish stock and non fish living resources. This activity aims at the elaboration of an Inventory of Innovative water monitoring technologies for monitoring of chemical, physical and biological parameters, and assessment of living resources.

Group Activity T2

Assessment and recommendation on advanced hydro-environmental numerical tools for data handling, real-time control and forecasting of marine conditions in the Black Sea. The main aim is to broaden the focus of traditional data processing and numerical modelling approaches by taking into account the holistic perspective in the analysis.

Group Activity T3

Pilot demonstration project on innovative monitoring using advance methods and instruments. Selecting innovative instrumentation, data handling and numerical modelling tools that are going to be demonstrated in two sea areas/test sites in Varna and Batumi.

Group Activity T4

Innovation Strategy to improve joint monitoring, data sharing and cross border information exchange systems in compliance with Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Data Collection Framework. This activity aims to develop common Strategy for supporting the implementation of modern technological upgrade in joint environmental monitoring, in service of the cross border cooperation and data sharing systems.

TIMMOD activities are in full swing. Please contact us to follow TIMMOD activities progress in detail, as well as if you wish to receive latest technical reports elaborated by the project team.

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