European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet)
Use Cases
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To understand the full benefits of EMODnet, users are kindly asked to describe how EMODnet supports them in their daily work and activities.
If you have developed an application using EMODnet products that you would like to share with us or if you use EMODnet data for other purposes, submit your use case by contacting helpdesk@emodnet.ec.europa.eu.
The EMB Habitat Mapping Working Group faced challenges in creating accurate and comprehensive marine habitat maps, particularly due to limited biological data and gaps in deep-sea coverage. EMODnet data—such as EUSeaMap, biology layers, and high-resolution bathymetry—was crucial in addressing these issues by providing detailed, accessible, and high-quality spatial data. This enabled the group to identify critical data gaps, assess habitat conditions, and inform future mapping priorities.
Using EMODnet Geology data, the Department for the Geological Survey of Italy (ISPRA) characterised the structural settings of the seas surrounding Italy. The EMODnet data, particularly from the "Geological events and probabilities" work package, provided insights into tectonic activity, including earthquakes, volcanoes, and submarine landslides. The EMODnet Bathymetry Digital Terrain Model (DTM) helped outline submarine volcanoes, while seabed rock data from the "Seafloor geology" work package aided in understanding geological strata. This comprehensive information allows for the identification of various marine geological settings, forming a solid basis for future studies on marine geohazard assessment, land management, and applied geology.
The EMODnet Biocheck tool was instrumental in harmonising and standardising the dataset collected from the in situ optical plankton recorder (LOKI), ensuring the data's accuracy and interoperability. This process facilitated the dataset's publication and compliance with FAIR principles, enhancing collaboration and innovation in marine research.
This study focused on developing an effective route planning methodology for unmanned sea vehicles (USVs), particularly Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) combining EMODnet data and third-party systems.
The data on EMODnet Human Activities occurrence and distribution was used to investigate the regulations of activities and protection provided by Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the European Union (EU). This PhD research study, supported by CCMAR, CNRS, and INRAE research institutes, highlights the persistent data gap and limitations of current EU MPAs and serves as a benchmark for monitoring and future evaluation of MPA policies.
The Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Challenge is an open-source platoform developed by Breda University of Applied Sciences. It hels users manage the blue economy and marine enviornmeny by simulating the impact of decisions on energy, shipping, and marine life. The simulations encourage users to utilize the best available data for assessing the current status and planning the future development of sea space. The data includes EMODnet services, which were used in an MSP Challenge to map bathymetry, biology, human activity and seabed habitat data for a simulation game supporting educational and stakeholder engagement.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), one of the EMODnet partners, is a state laboratory whose mission is to promote and coordinate scientific research, technological development, innovation and services on sea and atmosphere. IPMA is responsible for executing the geophysical, geological, geotechnical and environmental studies in the REPowereu project, which has the aim of developing up to 10 GW of electrical production centers in the offshore of Portugal, based on oceanic renewable energy until 2030.
The European Commission Directorate-General for Environment (EC DG ENV) has funded research in the Mediterranean Member States as part of the MEDREGION project to support the implementation of Good Environmental Status (GES) as defined under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
To ensure coherent implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) was adopted by the Member States and the European Commission, also involving the Regional Sea conventions, as well as industry representatives and non-governmental organisations. The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's science and knowledge service, is part of the CIS and plays a key role in the implementation of the MSFD. JRC’s mission is to anticipate challenges related to EU policy development, integrate science and knowledge into legislation to design new policies, and monitor their implementation and impact. The JRC works to facilitate the exchange of harmonised marine policy and scientific information and to provide the CIS of the MSFD and other EU policies with up-to-date scientific knowledge. In order to best address the individual MSFD descriptors, technical groups were established within the CIS for marine litter, underwater noise, seabed integrity and data, as well as MSFD expert networks for other descriptors.
The University of Southampton and its Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute is a major European centre for oceanography and marine geoscience. The Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) is the largest entity of its kind in the world, with expertise in everything from naval architecture to social sciences and work to address issues in the natural ocean environment (marine) and human use of the sea (maritime).
