The REMEDIES Shoreline ML App is a field-ready digital solution for organisations that need to collect, manage, validate and use marine litter data in a structured way. It combines a mobile app with a data repository and management portal, supporting beach litter monitoring, clean-up reporting and technology-enabled monitoring workflows.
Innovation snapshot
Related REMEDIES pillars: Detection & Monitoring; Prevention & Zero-Waste Solutions
Partner(s)/Owner(s): Infordata Sistemi, Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, and University of Maribor
Made for: Biologists, marine researchers, research institutions, environmental NGOs, policymakers, local authorities and citizen scientists
Technology maturity: The app aims to advance to TRL 8 by 2026
Commercial relevance: Designed for organisations that need reliable, standardised and actionable marine litter monitoring data across beach, clean-up and technology-supported campaigns
Watch the Technology Presentation on YouTube
The challenge it addresses
Marine litter monitoring still faces three recurring barriers: inconsistent field data, gaps in comparable datasets and limited participation from communities and local stakeholders. These barriers reduce the quality of evidence available for decision-making, policy design, resource allocation and prevention strategies.
- Data gaps in beach litter monitoring: standardised collection improves consistency and comparability across sites and countries.
- Policy and community engagement: a usable app gives local authorities, NGOs and citizens a practical way to participate in monitoring.
- FAIR data use: search, export and integration tools support data that is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable.
The solution
The app supports marine scientists, citizen scientists and stakeholders in collecting, managing and analysing beach litter data. Its integration with the REMEDIES Portal allows users to consolidate monitoring mission data with date, time, coordinates, material distribution, litter source composition, photos and other metadata. The data can then be compared with standardised datasets collected across Europe.
The solution builds on the H2020 MAELSTROM app and expands its functionality with automated metadata management, 100-metre transect measurement, J coding litter identification, unknown litter item management, photo-based litter identification and optional polymer type differentiation. It is designed to simplify scientific monitoring while keeping data aligned with JRC and EMODnet protocols.
Unique value proposition
- Protocol-aligned data collection: supports JRC and EMODnet-aligned monitoring workflows and structured reporting.
- Automated metadata management: reduces manual input and improves consistency across monitoring activities.
- Precision monitoring tools: supports automated transect measurements with GPS or GIS map support and J-coding for litter identification, with conversion tools to G and OSPAR100 codes.
- Offline functionality: supports use in remote areas where internet connectivity is limited.
- Visual litter catalogue and smart search: uses categorisation, grouping, tagging and AI-powered search functions to make litter identification easier.
- Unidentified litter support: allows users to request support from other scientists when an item is difficult to classify.
- Polymer identification: offers optional plastic type classification with NIR scanner support.
- All-in-one monitoring tool: supports beach monitoring, clean-up activities and campaigns involving underwater drones, aerial drones and GPS-tracked buoys.
- Data enrichment and validation: incorporates EMODnet services and enables datasets to be enhanced, validated, exported and used for analysis.
Technical characteristics
- Mobile application available for iOS and Android platforms using Progressive Web App technology.
- Backed by a web portal for data management, developed with Angular for the frontend and a MySQL database for secure and efficient data storage and retrieval.
- Integration with EMODnet web services for data exchange and validation.
- REST API for data exchange with third party systems and integration with external technologies through API/Web Services.
- GDPR and Security by design compliant, with Role Based Access Control.
- Prepared for integration with EDITO, the European Digital Twin of the Ocean.
- The REMEDIES Portal includes over 8,000 EMODnet beach litter datasets collected by scientists across Europe, enabling live comparison with project data.
Data management through the REMEDIES Portal
The REMEDIES Portal is the operational layer behind the mobile application. It allows users to manage beach litter monitoring, clean-ups and monitoring technologies, while giving project teams a central dashboard for maps, events, items and clean-up statistics. This makes the app suitable for research campaigns, local authority monitoring, NGO programmes and citizen science initiatives that need traceable and comparable data.
REMEDIES Portal Screenshot
Field validation and capacity building
The app has been used in training and testing environments with REMEDIES partners. Venice acted as a lighthouse site for app training and field testing, while Saïdia hosted additional testing with the REMEDIES App and the NIR polymer scanner. These activities support user feedback, field validation and practical onboarding for future deployment.
Who can use it
- Research institutions and academia: standardised datasets, improved data quality and stronger evidence for marine litter research.
- Environmental NGOs: validated monitoring data for campaigns, awareness actions and community engagement.
- Local authorities and policymakers: field evidence that can support regulation, prevention planning and public engagement.
- Citizen scientists: a practical route to participate in structured monitoring and contribute to institutional datasets.
- Business stakeholders, sponsors and investors: a scalable sustainability solution with a clear exploitation pathway and potential for wider deployment.
Deployment and exploitation pathway
The app is positioned as a scalable solution for marine litter monitoring and prevention. Its exploitation pathway combines collaborative research, pilots, capacity building and international scaling.
- Collaborative research and pilots with stakeholders to refine functionality and broaden applicability.
- Widespread deployment across REMEDIES demo sites, using Venice as a lighthouse for training and capacity building.
- Capacity building programmes to equip users with practical skills for app use and data review.
- Global scaling through replication in other regions and alignment with international marine litter monitoring initiatives.
- Sponsorship and venture capitalist engagement, inviting business stakeholders to support and benefit from sustainability-focused marine litter monitoring innovation.
Download and onboarding
The REMEDIES Shoreline ML App is available through the App Store and Google Play. The QR codes below can be used for direct access.
Step-by-step tutorial for new users
A dedicated REMEDIES Shoreline ML App step-by-step tutorial is available to support onboarding and field use. It guides users through the full app workflow: signing in, consulting EMODnet Monitoring Events, setting the 100-metre monitoring zone, counting litter, managing Uncategorised or Unassigned Litter Items, completing clean-up and participant data, reviewing the summary and exporting data to Excel.
Download the REMEDIES Shoreline ML App Step-by-step Tutorial
Discover more and contact
Contact for further information: info@remedies.com
