Validation of the hydrographic model of the SMARTLAGOON project in a riverbed in the Campo de Cartagena
Currently, the accurate measurement of the variables necessary for hydrological modeling faces the challenge of costly models and sensors. This problem is aggravated in basins with high water stress where monitoring is more complex. Such is the case of Campo de Cartagena, characterized by ephemeral streams and average annual rainfall of less than 300 mm. To address this situation, we implemented an innovative methodology that combines citizen science, through a mobile application that is able to obtain flow rates from recordings taken by citizens at specific control points; in addition to low-cost high-tech sensors capable of measuring the height of the water sheet, thanks to...
Unveiling the Complexity: Recap of SMARTLAGOON’s second participatory system dynamics modeling workshops.
In May's second week, SMARTLAGOON successfully conducted the second series of participatory systems dynamics modeling workshops. The week proved to be highly productive and engaging, yielding important insights. The results are being analyzed and will serve as a foundation for upcoming participatory activities scheduled for autumn 2023. SMARTLAGOON is an interdisciplinary project addressing environmental, economic, and social challenges in Spain's Mar Menor Lagoon and Campo de Cartagena watershed. WP4 focuses on participatory system dynamics modeling to build a systematic understanding of the region's socio-ecological and socio-economic dimensions. The project involves workshops to explore stakeholders’ perspectives from various sectors, including environmental, agriculture, fishing, tourism, regional government,...
SMARTLAGOON Seminario de intercambio científico
---> Artículo en español disponible aquí! On Monday May 08, from 09:00 – 15:30 o'clock, the SMARTLAGOON project team invites you to a scientific exchange seminar, which is open for researchers, but also anyone else who is interested in research done related to the Mar Menor. During the morning, results from the SMARTLAGOON project will be presented, while, in the afternoon, researchers from other organisations will be invited to present their research. The seminar closes with a discussion about the possibility to cooperate. Location: UCAM HiTech, Sport & Health Innovation Hub, Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/uixuWqabDXyZhBtv6 Please find below the final program. 9.00-10.00 Registration 10.00-10.30 Official welcome and Introduction about the SMARTLAGOON project - Estrella...
Desentrañando la complejidad del sistema del Mar Menor a través de la modelización participativa de dinámica de sistemas
During the last week of February and beginning of March SMARTLAGOON carried out the first set of workshops of the participatory systems dynamics modelling in the project. It was an intensive and fruitful week, and the results are being processed and will lay the ground for the follow-up participatory activities in May. SMARTLAGOON is an interdisciplinary project that aims to develop sustainable solutions for the environmental, economic, and social challenges facing the Mar Menor lagoon and the Campo de Cartagena watershed in Spain. The project comprises several work packages (WP), with WP4 focusing on participatory systems dynamics modelling of the socio-ecological and socio-economic dimensions of...
Our Citizen Science initiatives
Accordingly with Public participation plan, during the first year and a half of the project, we organized some activities to engage citizens, to understand their point of view and increase their awareness about our project and look at Mar Menor issues through scientific eyes. In particular, we engaged three citizens' group targets: i) children; ii) environmental NGO members; iii) people involved in water management. Children as citizen scientists In October 2021, we organized a citizen science session engaging two classes of the ``Felix Rodriguez de La Fuente" primary school in “Los Nietos” (Mar Menor). In particular, 23 children (12 girls and 11 boys) in the age range...
A citizens’ platform to help measure the waters of Mar Menor
A few weeks ago, researchers from the SMARTLAGOON project, led by the UCAM, trained the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura and the Directorate General of the Mar Menor to learn about our app for measuring flow rates from images. The Catholic University of Murcia meets with Photrack, a partner of the project, to explain the use of Discharge APP to the workers of the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura and the General Directorate of the Mar Menor. This algorithm, patented in Switzerland, obtains the velocity profile on the surface of the body of water, using an image measurement method through the movement of pixels. This application, which...