Overview:

DHI has developed MCSAV, a web-based interactive platform that uses Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite data and machine learning to map and monitor the distribution and quality of marine habitats. The platform is designed to be accessible to a wide range of users, including those with limited experience in satellite data analysis. MCSAV provides a cost-effective tool for generating regular, low-cost, satellite-based marine coastal habitat maps across large areas. This technology offers a practical solution for effective marine resource management and conservation efforts.   

The Challenge:

Effective marine resource management requires accurate data on the distribution and quality of essential marine habitats. Traditional data collection methods in the marine environment are often expensive and logistically challenging due to weather conditions, the vast areas that need to be covered, and the specialized skills required. This lack of accessible data hinders both monitoring and regulation, making marine conservation efforts lag behind those for terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. There is an urgent need for a cost-effective tool that can provide a comprehensive overview of nearshore coastal marine resources to address increasing pressures on marine resources and their associated livelihoods.   

The Solution:

Coupling satellite remote sensing technology and machine learning, DHI has developed a web-based interactive platform to address the above challenge. Using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites and information collected by DHI and local youth communities working with our partners, a platform has been developed which can be used by a wide range of stakeholders in identifying, mapping and monitoring of marine habitats, primarily Mangrove, Coral, and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, hence the platform's name MCSAV. It is a cloud-based interactive technology platform that is aimed at providing regular (at a maximum every 5 days and as far back as 2016/2017) and low-cost satellite-based marine coastal habitat maps across large areas that cannot be assessed and monitored any other way.   

Why this matters:

MCSAV aims to promote regional and local sustainability by providing a science-based platform for the planning, management, and monitoring of marine resources. Its primary goal is to raise awareness and empower users—from government bodies to local communities—by offering reliable, credible data on the status of marine resources. The most significant impact is expected to come from government bodies using MCSAV to report on key ecological indicators, e.g., mangroves, coral reefs and submerged aquatic vegetation.   

Results & impact:

The MCSAV platform has achieved significant results in mapping and monitoring key marine habitats. It has enabled the accurate mapping of 12 islands and their surrounding areas in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia, using satellite imagery and ground truth data. The platform has been successfully pilot-tested, with error assessments conducted through validation against field-collected data. MCSAV is currently the only platform equipped to cover a broad set of biotopes/habitats for tropical environments, including marine vegetation, corals/rubble, and mangrove forests, using a 'Human in the Loop' approach that allows for the integration of local knowledge.   

Replicate & scale up:

DHI plans to replicate and scale up MCSAV to new geographical areas, including a reef complex 60 km west of Semporna and regions in Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. They aim to promote the platform worldwide through various channels and engage more users and subscribers. Committed to continuously refining MCSAV, DHI will incorporate multitemporal analysis, additional data layers, and new features for comparing habitat maps across time, and integrate higher resolution imagery and time series data for more precise mapping and analysis.

Lessons learned:

The project has highlighted the challenges of mapping using optical satellite images in tropical environments due to persistent cloud cover and complex marine habitats. DHI has addressed these challenges by working closely with partners to collect field data to support model development, ensuring high accuracy in the final results. The project also emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement, particularly with government stakeholders, to address concerns about data management and sharing and promote the adoption of MCSAV for marine resource planning and management.