Nachikatsuura Town in Wakayama Prefecture, Keio University’s SFC Research Institute and Ad-Sol Nissin have entered into an agreement on marine DX using satellite data, drones and AI, among other technologies, with the aim of restoring seagrass beds and creating blue carbon. They will build a data-based model by 31 March 2031.
Nachikatsuura Town in Wakayama Prefecture, Keio University’s SFC Research Institute and Ad-Sol Nissin have entered into an agreement to use satellite data, drones, GIS and AI, among other technologies, launching an initiative aimed at visualising the marine environment, restoring seagrass beds and creating blue carbon. The initiative will run until 31 March 2031, during which the parties plan to build a data-based marine DX model.
The initiative will combine the M-NEX data-use platform, jointly developed with the Seagrass Bed Development Master Plan, to observe marine areas, integrate data and conduct analysis. Observation will use drones and satellite remote sensing, with the acquired data centrally managed through GIS.
AI will be used for image analysis to quantify the current status and changes in seagrass beds by determining the distribution, area and coverage of habitats. This will support the accumulation of evidence with a view to calculating future CO2 absorption volumes and obtaining blue carbon certification.
Nachikatsuura Town faces the challenge of declining seagrass beds and has declared itself a Zero Carbon City while working to conserve and create seagrass beds. Wide-area marine observation, however, involves survey burdens and challenges in quantitative assessment. The town aims to monitor conditions continuously by integrating satellites and drones with AI and GIS.