Plastic on Beaches Visible With New Satellite Imaging Tool

Researchers from RMIT University in Australia have developed a new satellite imaging technology that can spot plastic rubbish on beaches. This approach will help identify items and, therefore, simplify the efforts of cleaning up beaches from plastic trash.

The imagine tool was developed by researchers from the RMIT University in Australia. This tool highlights unique spectral responses in plastics in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) electromagnetic spectrum. This makes it easier to detect and distinguish them from sand and other items like grass or stones on beaches.

Satellites armed with this tool will help beach clean-up volunteers pinpoint the litter, so their work is more effective and quicker.

Mariela Soto-Berelov, the co-author of this study, referred to this new tool as “incredibly exciting.” She says that, “Up to now, we have not had a tool for detecting plastics in coastal environments from space.”

The research is to be published in an upcoming Marine Pollution Bulletin journal issue. Testing of this new tool is already in progress, with hopes of real-world testing in the future.

Plastic a growing problem on UK beaches

With millions flocking to UK beaches every year, plastic pollution around the shores has become a huge problem. Cleaning up this plastic waste is an issue as cleaners need to scan the beaches visually to find plastic waste.

With the new satellite imaging tool from researchers at RMIT University in Australia, these clean-up processes can become more efficient and stress-free in the UK and worldwide. This will help keep the environment clean and prevent the gathering of large deposits of plastic waste in the ocean.