BlueTrace: Standardised Data Platform for Maritime Traffic, Risk Prediction and Coastal Ecosystem Protection

An integrated digital platform that standardises and aggregates boat-usage and maritime traffic data to enhance safety, risk prediction, ecosystem protection and sustainable nautical tourism. Combining AIS/GPS/sensors, EO, machine learning and citizen-science inputs, the system supports real-time decision-making, environmental monitoring and nature-positive maritime governance.

The project develops a unified, standardised and interoperable Digital Maritime Data & Risk Management Platform that integrates multi-source vessel activity data (AIS, GPS, onboard sensors, marina reports, satellite imagery, self-reports, citizen science) into a real-time analytics system. The platform enables comprehensive maritime safety, environmental protection and sustainable nautical tourism management.

The system addresses the growing challenges of intensive nautical tourism and coastal pressures by providing tools for risk analysis, early warning, ecosystem-sensitive routing, and improved situational awareness. Advanced models integrate static vessel characteristics with dynamic usage patterns to develop predictive analytics for navigation risks, congestion, illegal anchoring, environmental pressures and SAR deployment. The platform builds on rigorous scientific review, machine-learning modelling and ecosystem-based indicators.

Key Objectives

• Standardise and unify maritime traffic data across public, private and scientific sources.
• Improve maritime safety through predictive risk modelling, early detection of incidents and real-time SAR support.
• Reduce environmental impacts of boating by monitoring sensitive areas (Posidonia meadows, MPAs), detecting harmful activities and promoting eco-friendly routing.
• Enable ecosystem-based and nature-positive coastal governance aligned with EU biodiversity objectives.
• Support climate-resilient blue economy models through evidence-based decision-making and improved data availability.
• Strengthen citizen participation via user platforms enabling self-reporting, observation and community monitoring.
• Establish a scalable digital infrastructure for governance, research and innovation.

Key Innovations

• Unified, standardised data acquisition platform spanning sensors, AIS/GPS, EO and user-generated data.
• AI-powered risk prediction for maritime safety, SAR, collision avoidance and illegal behaviours.
• Eco-routing algorithms for biodiversity-sensitive navigation and reduced emissions.
• Citizen-science integration for environmental and species observations.
• Digital governance tools for authorities to manage traffic, compliance and sensitive habitats.
• Scalable architecture enabling EU-wide replication.

Relevance to Horizon Europe (Destination Mapping)

Destination 1: Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services
– Monitoring pressures on marine ecosystems (Posidonia, MPAs)
– Citizen-science and sensor-based environmental observations
– Data-driven tools for nature-positive coastal policy

Destination 5: Land, Ocean & Water for Climate Action
– Real-time ocean observations; adaptive traffic routing
– Pressure modelling (CO₂, disturbance, anchoring impacts)

Destination 6: Resilient, Inclusive & Green Coastal Areas
– Improved safety for coastal communities
– Sustainable nautical tourism governance
– Integrated local-to-national risk management

Destination 7: Innovative Governance, Environmental Observations & Digital
– Interoperability, data standardisation, digital twins
– AI/ML risk prediction models and automated decision-support
– EO integration for continuous maritime observation