The application, available for iOS and Android devices, makes it easy for anyone to report the presence of the alga on sand or in water. The process is simple: just take a photograph, geolocate the finding, and register it, all in under a minute.
The collected data will be incorporated into a scientific database that will help researchers better understand where and when large accumulations of this invasive species appear, as well as the conditions that favor its arrival on beaches.
This information will be crucial for training and validating algorithms capable of detecting landings using images captured by drones and satellites, as part of the RoGEO project.
The ultimate goal is to develop tools that not only inform about the current location of the species but also improve its monitoring and allow for the anticipation of future arrivals, thereby facilitating the response of administrations and the fishing sector.
