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Description
It is estimated that at least 5 million tons of waste are dumped into the Oceans every year,
most of it (80%) originated in cities, as a result of a poor solid waste management. Unlike
organic materials, plastic never "disappears" in nature and accumulates in the environment,
mainly in the oceans. Sunlight, salt water and waves fragment plastics into ever smaller pieces.
This type of material is one of the main pollutants of the oceans.
Several researches point out the pollution generated by microplastics as one of the main risk
factors to health. Among the problems related to intoxication by persistent organic pollutants
(POPs), are several types of hormonal, immunological, neurological and reproductive
dysfunctions. Similarly, plastics can contain bisphenols, which are known as endocrine
disruptors very harmful to the health of the environment and humans.
This project will improve the quality of life of marine species and the cleaning of the oceans,
since it aims to remove waste from them, more precisely by removing plastic and its
derivatives, listing mechanisms based on software to enhance and leverage the discovery and
processing of the location and size of waste accumulations. In other words, the solution
includes:
1 - Integration and processing of satellite images;
2 - Development of algorithms for the detection of types of plastic in the oceans;
3 - Generation of operational reports and optimized waste collection routes;
4 - Reduction of ocean pollution and consequent contribution to the United Nations
Sustainable Development Indicators, namely regarding Objective 14 - "Protect marine life".